* 


ANTIQUITIES 


STATE  OF  NEW  YORK. 

BEING   THE   RESULTS   OF    EXTENSIVE    ORIGINAL   SURVEYS 
AND  EXPLORATIONS, 

WITH 

A  SUPPLEMENT 


ANTIQUITIES  OF  THE  WEST; 


ILLUSTRATED  BY  FOURTEEN  QUARTO  PLATES  AND  EIGHTY 
ENGRAVINGS  ON  WOOD : 


By  E.  G.  SQUIEB,  M.  A., 

Toreign   Member  of  the   British  Archaeological    Association;    Member  of    the  AmeriM 

Ethnological  Society ;   the  Pennsylvania  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  ;  the 

New  York  Historical  Society  ;  the  Massachusetts  Historical 

Society  ;    the  Historical  and  Antiquarian 

Society  of  Tennessee,  etc.,  etc. 


FEOM  THE  "SMITHSONIAN  CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  KNOWLEDGE. 


BUFFALO: 

GEO.    H .    DERBY    AND    CO. 


1851. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1851,  by 

E.  G.  SQUIER, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Southern 
District  of  New  York. 


Stereotyped  by  C.  DAVISON,  33  Goto  St.,  N-  \. 


C.    A.   ALVORD,    PRINTER, 
29  Gold-st.,  N.  Y. 


PREFACE 


THE  investigations,  the  results  of  which  are  embodied 
in  the  following  pages,  were  undertaken  in  the  autumn 
of  1848,  under  the  joint  auspices  of  the  Historical  So 
ciety  of  New  York,  and  the  Smithsonian  Institution  of 
Washington.  They  were  originally  published  in  the 
Second  Volume  of  the  "  SMITHSONIAN  CONTRIBUTIONS 
TO  KNOWLEDGE,"  in  a  form  far  too  costly  to  be  gene 
rally  accessible.  But  as  it  is  the  design  of  this  Insti 
tution  to  promote  knowledge,  by  giving  as  wide  a  diffu 
sion  to  new  facts  as  possible,  its  officers  have  liberally 
assented  to  their  republication  in  the  present  form,  and 
permitted  the  use  of  the  original  plates  and  engravings, 
for  that  purpose.  By  this  means,  the  work  is  placed 
within  the  reach  of  all  who  are  interested  in  the  subject 
of  American  Antiquities,  at  a  price  far  below  what  would 
have  been  the  cost  of  its  original  production. 

In  preparing  this  edition,  the  author  has  added  largely 
to  the  original  Memoir,  and  has  also  appended  a  supple- 


IV  PREFACE. 

ment,  containing  a  resume  or  synoptical  view  of  the  An 
cient  Monuments  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  This  will 
enable  the  general  reader  to  institute  all  necessary 
comparisons  between  the  aboriginal  remains  of  New 
York,  and  those  of  the  Western  States. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER     I.— Introductory  Observations, Page  7  to    15 

II.— Earth  Works,  Inclosures,  etc., 15  to    85 

St.  Lawrence  County, 15 

Jefferson  County, 16 

Oswego  County, 30 

Onondaga  County, 31 

Madison  County, 45 

Otsego  County, 46 

Chenango  County 46 

Cayuga  County, 48 

Chemung  County, 53 

Ontario  County,  . 55 

Monroe  County, 56 

Livingston  County 61 

Genesee  County, 64 

Orleans  County, 71 

Erie  County, 72 

Chautauque  County, 81 

Montgomery  County, 82 

III.— Palisaded  Inclosures 85  to    97 

IV.— Mounds,  Bone-heaps,  etc., 97  to  116 

V. — Implements,  Ornaments,  etc., 116  to  137 

VI.— Observations  on  the  Probable  Origin  of  the 

Ancient  Monuments  of  New  York, 137  to  142 

VIL— Ancient  Works  in  New  Hampshire,  Penn 
sylvania,  Northern  Ohio,  etc., 142  to  150 

Vin.— General  Character  of  Indian  Defences, ....  150  to  164 

IX.— Stone  Heaps ;  Stones  of  Memorial,  Stone 

Circles> 164  to  177 


VI  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER   X.— Comparison  of  the  Defensive  Structures  of 
the  American  Aborigines  with  those  of 
the  Pacific  Islanders,  Celts,  etc.,  etc.,. . .  177  to  189 
XI.— Sepulchral    Mounds    in    Mexico,  Central 

America,  etc, 189  to  195 

XII. — Sepulchral    Monuments    of    the    Ancient 

World, 195  to  207 

XIII.— Probable  Funeral    Rites  of  the    Mound 

Builders, 207  to  213 

XIV.— The  Mounds  not  general  Burial  Places; 

Great  Indian  Cemeteries  of  the  West, . .  213  to  225 
XV.— Aboriginal  Sacred  Inclosures ;  Temples  of 
the  North  American  Indians ;  Temples 
of  Mexico,  Central  America,  and  Peru ; 
Temples   of  the  Polynesian  Islanders, 
Hindus,  etc ;  Primitive   Temples  of  the 
British  Islands ;  Symbolism  of  Temples,  225  to  267 
XVI.— Use  of  Copper  and  Silver  by  the  American 

Aborigines, 267  to  293 

SUPPLEMENT. 

Ancient  Monuments  of  the  Mississippi  Valley ;  General  Ob 
servations  ;  Inclosures  for  Defence ;  Sacred  Inclosures; 
Mounds  of  Sepulture ;  of  Sacrifice,  etc.,  etc. ;  Imple 
ments  ;  Ornaments ;  Sculptures,  etc.,  etc., 293  to  343 


ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS 


OF    THE 


STATE   OF  NEW  YORK, 


CHAPTER    I. 

INTRODUCTORY    OBSERVATIONS. 

THE  Indian  tribes  found  in  possession  of  the  country  now 
embraced  within  the  limits  of  New  England  and  the  Middle 
States  have  left  few  monuments  to  attest  their  former  pres 
ence.  The  fragile  structures  which  they  erected  for  protec 
tion  and  defence  have  long  ago  crumbled  to  the  earth  ;  and  the 
sites  of  their  ancient  towns  and  villages  are  indicated  only  by 
the  ashes  of  their  long-extinguished  fires,  and  by  the  few  rude 
relics  which  the  plough  of  the  invader  exposes  to  his  curious 
gaze.  Their  cemeteries,  marked  in  very  rare  instances  by  en 
during  monuments,  are  now  undistinguishable,  except  where 
the  hand  of  modern  improvement  encroaches  upon  the  sanc 
tity  of  the  grave.  The  forest-trees,  upon  the  smooth  bark  of 
which  the  Indian  hunter  commemorated  his  exploits  in  war,  or 
success  in  the  chase — the  first  rude  efforts  toward  a  written 
language — have  withered  in  the  lapse  of  time,  or  fallen  be 
neath  the  inexorable  ax.  The  rock  upon  which  the  same 
primitive  historian  laboriously  wrought  out  his  rude,  but  to 


8  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

him  significant  picture,  alone  resists  the  corrosion  of  years. 
Perhaps  no  people  equally  numerous  have  passed  away  with 
out  leaving  more  decided  memorials  of  their  former  existence. 
Excepting  the  significant  names  of  their  sonorous  language, 
which  still  attach  to  our  mountains,  lakes,  and  streams,  little 
remains  to  recall  the  memory  of  the  departed  race. 

But  notwithstanding  the  almost  entire  absence  of  monu 
ments  of  art  clearly  referable  to  the  Indian  tribes  discovered 
in  the  actual  possession  of  the  region  above  indicated,  it  has 
long  been  known  that  many  evidences  of  ancient  labor  and  skill 
are  to  be  found  in  the  western  parts  of  New  York  and  Penn 
sylvania,  upon  the  upper  tributaries  of  the  Ohio,  and  along  the 
shores  of  Lakes  Erie  and  Ontario.  Here  we  find  a  series  of 
ancient  earth-works,  intrenched  hills,  and  occasional  mounds, 
or  tumuli,  concerning  which  history  is  mute,  and  the  origin  of 
which  has  been  regarded  as  involved  in  impenetrable  mystery. 
These  remains  became  a  subject  of  frequent  remark,  as  the 
tide  of  emigration  flowed  westward  5  and  various  detached  no 
tices  of  their  existence  were,  from  time  to  time,  made  public. 
No  connected  view  of  their  extent  or  character  was,  however^ 
given  to  the  world,  until  1817,  when  De  Witt  Clinton,  whose 
energetic  mind  neglected  no  department  of  inquiry,  read  a 
brief  memoir  upon  the  subject  before  the  "  Literary  and  Philo 
sophical  Society  of  New  York,"  which  was  published  in  pamph 
let  form,  at  Albany,  in  1818.  Mr.  Clinton  in  this  memoir  did 
not  profess  to  give  a  complete  view  of  the  matter ;  his  aim 
being,  in  his  own  language,  "  to  awaken  the  public  mind  to  a 
subject  of  great  importance,  before  the  means  of  investigation 
were  entirely  lost."  It  consequently  contains  but  little  more 
than  notices  of  such  ancient  earth-works,  and  other  interesting 
remains  of  antiquity,  as  had  at  that  time  fallen  under  his  no 
tice,  or  of  which  he  had  received  some  distinct  information. 
Its  publication  was,  however,  without  any  immediate  effect ; 
for  few  individuals,  at  that  period,  felt  the  interest  requisite,  or 
possessed  the  opportunities  necessary,  to  the  continuance  of 


INTRODUCTORY    OBSERVATIONS.  9 

the  investigations  thus  worthily  commenced.  Nothing  further, 
it  is  believed,  appeared  upon  the  subject,  until  the  publication 
of  McCauley's  History  of  New  York,  in  1828.  This  work 
contained  a  chapter  upon  the  antiquities  of  the  State,  embody 
ing  the  essential  parts  of  Mr.  Clinton's  memoir,  together  with 
some  facts  of  considerable  interest,  which  had  fallen  under  the 
observation  of  the  author  himself.  Within  a  few  years,  public 
attention  has  again  been  directed  to  the  subject  by  Mr.  School- 
craft,  in  his  "  Notes  on  the  Iroquois."  Some  detached  facts 
have  also  been  presented  in  local  histories  and  publications,  but 
usually  in  so  loose  and  vague  a  manner,  as  to  be  of  little  value 
for  purposes  of  comparison  and  research. 

The  observations  of  all  these  authorities  were  merely  inci 
dental,  and  were  limited  in  their  range.  By  none  were  pre 
sented  plans,  from  actual  surveys,  of  any  of  the  ancient  works 
of  the  State ;  a  deficiency  which,  it  is  evident,  could  not  be 
supplied  by  descriptions,  however  full  and  accurate,  and  with 
out  which  it  has  been  found  impossible  to  institute  the  compar 
isons  requisite  to  correct  conclusions  as  to  the  date,  origin, 
and  probable  connections  of  these  remains.  It  has  all  along 
been  represented  that  some  of  the  inclosures  were  of  regular 
outlines,  true  circles  and  ellipses  and  accurate  squares — feat 
ures  which  would  imply  a  common  origin  with  the  vast  system 
of  ancient  earth-works  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  Submitted 
to  the  test  of  actual  survey,  I  have  found  that  the  works  which 
were  esteemed  entirely  regular  are  the  very  reverse,  and  that 
the  builders,  instead  of  constructing  them  upon  geometrical 
principles,  regulated  their  forms  entirely  by  the  nature  of  the 
ground  upon  which  they  were  built.  And  I  may  here  men 
tion,  that  none  of  the  ancient  works  of  this  State,  of  which 
traces  remain  displaying  any  considerable  degree  of  regularity, 
can  lay  claim  to  high  antiquity.  All  of  them  may  be  re 
ferred,  with  certainty,  to  the  period  succeeding  the  commence 
ment  of  European  intercourse. 

Mr.  Clinton  was  unable  to  learn  of  the  occurrence  of  any 
1* 


10  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

remains  upon  the  first  terrace  back  from  the  lakes,  and,  upon 
the  basis  of  the  assumed  fact  of  their  non-existence,  advanced 
the  opinion  that  the  subsidence  of  the  lakes  and  the  formation 
of  this  terrace  had  taken  place  since  these  works  were  erected 
— a  chronological  period  which  I  shall  not  attempt  to  measure 
by  years.  This  deduction  has  been  received,  I  believe,  by 
every  succeeding  writer  upon  the  subject  of  our  antiquities, 
without  any  attempt  to  verify  the  assumption  upon  which  it 
rests.  I  have,  however,  found  that  the  works  occur  indiscrimi 
nately  upon  the  first  and  upon  the  superior  terraces,  as  also 
upon  the  islands  of  the  lakes  and  rivers. 

Misled  by  statements  which  no  opportunity  was  afforded  of 
verifying,  I  have  elsewhere,  though  in  a  guarded  manner,  ven 
tured  the  opinion  that  the  ancient  remains  of  western  New 
York  belonged  to  the  same  system  with  those  of  Ohio  and  the 
West  generally.*  Under  this  hypothesis,  the  question  whether 
they  were  the  weaker  efforts  of  a  colony,  starting  from  the 
southwestern  centers,  or  the  ruder  beginnings  of  a  people  just 
emerging  from  a  nomadic  state,  becoming  fixed  in  their  habits, 
and  subsequently  migrating  southward,  next  suggested  itself ; 
and  I  gladly  availed  myself  of  the  joint  liberality  of  the  Smith 
sonian  Institution  and  the  Historical  Society  of  New  York,  to 
undertake  its  investigation.  The  results  of  my  observations 
are  briefly  presented  in  the  following  pages.  These  observa 
tions  extended  from  the  county  of  St.  Lawrence  on  the  north, 
to  Chautauque  on  the  south,  embracing  the  counties  of  Jeffer 
son,  Oswego,  Onondaga,  Oneida,  Cayuga,  Seneca,  Ontario, 
Wayne,  Monroe,  Livingston,  Orleans,  Niagara,  Erie,  Genesee, 
and  Wyoming.  Throughout  this  entire  region  ancient  remains 
are  found  in  considerable  abundance ;  they  are  also  occasionally 
found  in  the  counties  adjoining  those  above  named,  upon  the 
principal  tributaries  of  the  Delaware,  Susquehanna,  and  Alle- 
ghany.  They  are  known  to  extend  down  the  Susquehanna,  as 

*  "  Ancient  Monuments  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,"  p.  1. 


INTRODUCTORY    OBSERVATIONS.  11 

far  as  the  valley  of  the  "Wyoming;  and  a  single  one  was  discov 
ered  as  far  east  as  Montgomery  county,  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Fort  Plain.  Some,  it  is  said,  are  to  be  found  in  Canada ;  but 
no  definite  information  was  received  of  their  localities.  It  is  to 
be  observed  that  they  are  most  numerous  in  sections  remarkable 
for  their  fertility  of  soil,  their  proximity  to  favorable  hunting 
and  fishing  grounds — in  short,  possessing  the  greatest  number 
of  requisites  to  easy  subsistence.  They  are  particularly  nu 
merous  in  Jefferson  county,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  central  lakes, 
in  the  southern  part  of  Monroe,  in  Livingston,  Genesee,  and 
Erie  counties.  Many  are  said  to  exist  in  Chautauque  ;  but 
the  lateness  of  the  season,  and  the  unsuspected  number  of  re 
mains  elsewhere  claiming  attention,  prevented  me  from  exam 
ining  them. 

In  respect  to  the  number  of  these  remains,  some  estimate 
may  be  formed  from  the  fact  that,  in  Jefferson  county  alone, 
fifteen  inclosures  were  found,  sufficiently  well  preserved  to  ad 
mit  of  being  traced  throughout.  This  is  exclusive  of  those 
(probably  a  greater  number)  which  have  been  wholly  or  in  part 
destroyed,  or  of  which  no  information  could  be  obtained,  in  the 
limited  time  allotted  to  the  investigation  of  that  county.  It 
is  safe  to  estimate  the  whole  number  which  originally  existed 
here  at  between  thirty  and  forty — a  greater  number  than  was 
before  known  to  exist  in  the  State.  Erie  county  probably  con 
tained  nearly  as  many.  In  the  short  period  of  eight  weeks 
devoted  to  the  search,  I  was  enabled  to  ascertain  the  localities 
of  not  less  than  one  hundred  ancient  works,  and  to  visit  and 
make  surveys  of  half  that  number.  From  the  facts  which  have 
fallen  under  my  notice,  I  feel  warranted  in  estimating  the  num 
ber  which  originally  existed  in  the  State  at  from  two  hundred 
to  two  hundred  and  fifty.  Probably  one  half  of  these  have  been 
obliterated  by  the  plough,  or  so  much  encroached  upon  as  to  be 
no  longer  satisfactorily  traced. 

Were  these  works  of  the  general  large  dimensions  of  those 
of  the  Western  States,  their  numbers  would  be  a  just  ground  of 


'>.;"  ^° 

12  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

astonishment.  They  are,  however,  for  the  most  part,  compara 
tively  small,  varying  from  one  to  four  acres — the  largest  not 
exceeding  sixteen  acres  in  area.  The  embankments,  too,  are 
slight,  and  the  ditches  shallow ;  the  former  seldom  more  than 
four  feet  in  height,  and  the  latter  of  corresponding  proportions. 
The  work  most  distinctly  marked  exists  in  the  town  of  Oak- 
field,  Genesee  county ;  it  measures,  in  some  places,  between 
seven  and  eight  feet  from  the  bottom  of  the  ditch  to  the  top 
of  the  wall.  In  some  cases  the  embankment  is  not  more  than 
a  foot  in  height,  and  the  trench  of  the  same  depth.  Lest  it 
should  be  doubted  whether  works  so  slight  can  be  satisfactorily 
traced,  it  may  be  observed,  that  a  regular  and  continuous  ele 
vation  of  six  inches  may  always  be  followed  without  difficulty. 

In  respect  of  position,  a  very  great  uniformity  is  to  be  ob 
served  throughout.  Most  occupy  high  and  commanding  sites 
near  the  bluff  edges  of  the  broad  terraces  by  which  the  country 
rises  from  the  level  of  the  lakes.  From  the  brows  of  the  lime 
stone  ledges,  where  some  of  these  works  occur,  in  Jefferson  and 
Erie  counties,  most  extensive  prospects  may  be  obtained,  often 
terminating  in  the  blue  belt  of  the  lakes,  distant  from  ten  to 
forty  miles ;  the  intervening  country  presenting  a  beautiful  va 
riety  of  cleared  and  forest  lands,  dotted  with  houses,  churches, 
and  villages.  When  found  upon  lower  grounds,  it  is  usually 
upon  some  dry  knoll  or  little  hill,  or  where  banks  of  streams 
serve  to  lend  security  to  the  position.  A  few  have  been  found 
upon  slight  elevations  in  the  midst  of  swamps,  where  dense  for 
ests  and  almost  impassable  marshes  protected  them  from  dis 
covery  and  attack.  In  nearly  all  cases  they  are  placed  in  close 
proximity  to  some  unfailing  supply  of  water,  near  copious  springs 
or  running  streams.  Gateways,  opening  toward  these,  are  al 
ways  to  be  observed,  and  in  some  cases  guarded  passages  are 
also  visible.  These  circumstances,  in  connection  with  others 
not  less  unequivocal,  indicate,  with  great  precision,  the  purposes 
for  which  these  structures  were  erected. 

It  has  already  been  mentioned  that  Messrs.  Clinton,  Yates, 


INTRODUCTORY    OBSERVATIONS. 


13 


and  Moulton,  and  others,  have  concluded,  upon  the  assumption 
that  none  of  these  works  occur  upon  the  first  and  second  ter 
races  above  the  lakes,  that  the  latter  have  subsided  to  their 
present  level  since  their  erection.  This  conclusion  does  not 
necessarily  follow  from  the  premises.  Few  positions  susceptible 
of  defence,  under  the  system  practiced  by  all  rude  people,  are 
to  be  found  upon  either  of  these  terraces  ;  the  builders,  conse 
quently,  availed  themselves  of  the  numerous  headlands  and 
other  defensible  positions  which  border  the  supposed  ancient 
shores  of  the  lakes,  simply  because  they  afforded  the  most  effec 
tual  protection,  with  the  least  expenditure  of  labor. 

I  found  an  entire  uniformity  in  the  indications  of  occupancy, 
and  in  the  character  of  the  remains  of  art  discovered  within 
these  inclosures,  throughout  the  whole  range  of  their  occurrence. 
The  first  feature  which  attracts  notice,  upon  entering  them,  is 
a  number  of  pits  or  excavations  in  the  earth,  usually  at  the 
points  which  are  most  elevated  and  dry.  These  pits  are  occa 
sionally  of  considerable  size,  and  are  popularly  called  "  wells," 
although  nothing  is  more  obvious  than  that  they  never  could 
have  been  designed  for  any  such  purpose.  They  are  usually 
from  three  to  four,l)ut  sometimes  from  six  to  eight  feet  in  depth, 
and  of  proportionate  size  at  the  top.  Their  purposes  become 
sufficiently  evident  upon  excavation.  They  were  the  caches  in 
which  the  former  occupants  of  these  works  deposited  their  stores. 
Parched  corn,  now  completely  carbonized  by  long  exposure,  is 
to  be  discovered  in  considerable  abundance  in  many  of  them. 
Instances  fell  under  my  notice  where  it  had  been  found  un 
touched  to  the  amount  of  bushels,  in  these  primitive  deposito 
ries.  Traces  of  the  bark  and  thin  slips  of  wood,  by  which  the 
deposits  were  surrounded,  are  also  frequently  to  be  found.  In 
many  of  these  inclosures  the  sites  of  the  ancient  lodges,  or  cab 
ins,  are  still  to  be  traced.  These  are  marked  by  considerable 
accumulations  of  decomposed  and  carbonaceous  matter — stones 
much  burned,  charcoal  and  ashes  mingled  with  the  bones  of  an 
imals,  with  numerous  fragments  of  pottery,  broken  pipes,  and 


14  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

occasionally  rude  ornaments,  such  as  beads  of  stone,  bone,  and 
shell.  The  pottery,  I  may  observe  incidentally,  is  of  very  good 
material,  and  appears  to  have  been  worked  and  ornamented 
with  considerable  taste  and  skill.  It  is  found  in  great  abun 
dance  ;  and,  in  many  of  the  inclosures  now  under  cultivation, 
bushels  of  fragments  might,  if  desirable,  be  collected  without 
difficulty.  The  material,  in  common  with  that  of  all  the  abo 
riginal  pottery  of  the  North,  is  composed  of  clay  tempered  (if 
I  may  use  the  term)  with  pounded  quartz  and  shells,  or  with 
fine  sand,  so  as  to  prevent  shrinkage,  and  resist  the  action  of 
fire.  Most  of  it  is  well  burned,  but  none  exhibits  any  appear 
ance  of  glazing.  The  pipes  are  mostly  composed  of  clay,  regu 
larly  and  often  fancifully  moulded,  and  ornamented  in  various 
ways.  Some  bear  the  form  of  animals,  the  distinctive  features 
of  which  are  well  preserved ;  others  are  moulded  in  the  shape 
of  the  human  head,  or  are  variously  fluted  and  dotted  with  reg 
ular  figures.  They  are  generally  of  very  good  material,  the 
clay  of  fine  quality,  and  well  burned.  Some,  indeed,  are  so 
hard,  smooth,  and  symmetrical,  as  almost  to  induce  doubts  of 
their  aboriginal  origin.  Some  of  the  terra  cottas,  other  than 
pipes,  are  really  very  creditable  specimens  of  art,  and  compare 
favorably  with  any  of  the  productions  of  the  aborigines  which 
have  fallen  under  my  notice.  They  are,  with  few  exceptions, 
representations  of  animals;  with  the  minutest  features  of  which, 
as  well  as  with  their  peculiar  habits,  the  American  Indians  had, 
from  long  observation,  a  thorough  acquaintance. 


CHAPTER    II. 

EARTH-WORKS,   INCLOSURES,   ETC. 

FOR  the  sake  of  convenience  and  easy  reference,  the  inclo- 
sures  of  earth  are  arranged  according  to  counties,  and  so  de 
scribed.  Works  which  were  constructed  of  palisades  simply, 
without  embankments  or  ditches,  do  not  fall  within  this  ar 
rangement,  but  will  be  described  collectively  in  a  separate 
chapter,  under  the  head  of  "  PALISADED  INCLOSURES." 

ST.    LAWRENCE    COUNTY. 

A  FEW  aboriginal  monuments  are  said  to  have  existed  in 
this  county.  One  or  two.  of  these  occurred  near  Pottsdam ; 
but  it  is  probable  they  are  now  nearly,  if  not  quite  obliterated. 

A  mound,  eight  feet  in  height,  still  exists  on  St.  Regis  Isl 
and,  in  the  St.  Lawrence  River.  It  is  crossed  by  the  boundary 
line  separating  the  territories  of  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain.  It  was  excavated  by  Col.  Hawkins,  of  the  United 
States  Boundary  Commission,  in  1818.  Near  the  surface  were 
human  bones  in  considerable  numbers,  and  in  good  preserva 
tion  ;  but  at  the  base  were  found  traces  of  fire,  charcoal,  burned 
bones,  and  fragments  of  pottery,  together  with  some  stone 
implements  and  ornaments. 

Upon  the  Canada  shore  of  the  St.  Lawrence  River,  opposite 
Morrisville  in  this  county,  a  singular  aboriginal  deposit  was  dis 
covered  some  years  ago,  in  making  the  excavations  for  the  St. 
Lawrence  Canal.  The  principal  facts  concerning  them  were 
communicated  to  the  author  by  Dr.  T.  Reynolds,  of  Brockville, 
C.  W.,  and  are  embodied  in  Vol.  I.  of  the  "  Smithsonian  Con- 


16 


ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 


tributions  to  Knowledge,"  pp.  201,  202.  Among  the  relics 
of  copper  and  other  materials,  discovered  at  this  spot  and  de 
scribed  as  above,  was  a  small  terra  cotta  mask  of  very  good 
workmanship.  An  engraving  of 
the  size  of  the  original  is  herewith 
presented  (Fig.  1).  Mr.  Reynolds, 
who  has  the  relic  in  his  possession, 
describes  it  as  follows :  "  It  is  of 
clay,  and  represents  the  contour  of 
the  Indian  head,  after  which  it  ap 
pears  to  have  been  molded.  It 
corresponds  very  nearly  in  shape 
with  the  skulls  discovered  at  the 
same  place,  and  the  foramina,  or 
holes  found  in  the  skull,  are  well 
represented — showing  that  it  was 
modeled  to  resemble  the  bony 
structure  of  the  head,  not  the  flesh  or  living  subject.  It  seems 
to  have  been  broken  off  from  some  idol  or  image." 


FIG.  1. 


JEFFERSON   COUNTY. 

THIS  county  is  bounded  on  one  side  by  Lake  Ontario,  and 
upon  the  other  by  the  wild,  mountainous  region  which  sepa 
rates  the  waters  of  the  Hudson  River  from  those  of  the  St. 
Lawrence.  It  is  intersected  by  the  Black  River,  one  of  the 
most  picturesque  streams  of  the  State.  Its  surface  is  diversi 
fied  :  for  about  ten  miles  back  from  the  shores  of  the  lake,  it  is 
nearly  level ;  we  then  reach  the  ledges  of  the  Trenton  lime 
stone,  and  the  entire  country  becomes  more  elevated  and  irre 
gular.  These  natural  features,  implying  an  abundance  of  fish 
and  game,  joined  to  great  fertility  of  soil  and  easy  cultivation, 


PLATE    I. 


A\\\VI  Will/// 


^nm*  •*$*s-^j*>  »r  «•  t  - 

^^J7"-^  -"o." 

t^i»vW^-,-    .^_^,i:^' 


JEFFERSON    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  17 

fitted  this  county  for  sustaining  a  large  aboriginal  population. 
We  are  not  surprised,  therefore,  at  finding  here  numerous 
traces  of  former  occupancy.  These  consist  chiefly  of  inclosures 
of  irregular  outlines,  situated,  for  the  most  part,  upon  the  bor 
ders  of  the  high  table-land  or  terrace  formed  by  the  abrupt 
termination  of  the  great  limestone  deposit  of  the  Trenton 
group,  the  base  of  which,  it  is  supposed,  was  formerly  washed 
by  the  waters  of  Lake  Ontario.  Quite  a  number  of  these 
works,  however,  occur  upon  the  lower  terrace,  in  places  where 
the  natural  features  of  the  ground  were  favorable  to  their  con 
struction  and  objects.  Works  were  examined  in  this  county, 
in  the  townships  of  Watertown,  Le  Ray,  Rutland,  Rodman, 
Adams,  and  Ellisburgh. 

The  following  examples  are  presented  in  the  order  in  which 
they  were  surveyed 


PLATE  I. 

Ancient  Work,  Adams  Township,  Jefferson  County,  New  York. 

THIS  work  occupies  a  commanding  position  upon  the  brow 
of  the  second  terrace,  which  is  here  some  hundreds  of  feet  in 
height,  and  very  abrupt.  The  ground  immediately  back  of 
the  site  of  the  work  is  considerably  depressed  and  swampy.  It 
is  drained  by  a  little  stream  (a),  which,  falling  over  the  cliff, 
forms  a  smal.1  but  picturesque  cascade.  The  narrow  channel 
of  this  stream  was  formerly  obstructed  by  a  beaver-dam,  which 
converted  the  marsh  into  a  deep  and  impassable  pond.  The 
elevation  upon  which  this  work  is  situated,  it  will  thus  be  seen, 
was  well  fitted  by  nature  for  defensive  purposes — possessing  the 
two  primary  requisites,  difficult  approach  and  an  unfailing  sup 
ply  of  water. 

The  artificial  defences  consist  of  an  embankment  of  earth, 
with  an  exterior  ditch.  The  forest  covers  the  greater  part  of 


18  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

the  work,  and  here  the  lines  are  still  well  preserved.  The 
embankment  has  an  average  height  of  perhaps  three  feet,  by 
ten  feet  in  width  at  the  base ;  the  ditch  is  of  corresponding 
dimensions.  There  are  not  less  than  seven  gateways,  varying 
from  eight  to  thirty  feet  in  width.  Upon  the  right  of  the 
work,  toward  the  swamp  already  mentioned,  there  is  an  ab 
rupt  bank  not  far  from  thirty  feet  in  height,  where  the  defences 
are  interrupted.  At  the  point  indicated  by  the  letter  Z>,  a 
large  bass-wood  (linden)  tree  is  standing  upon  the  embankment. 
It  measures  twelve  feet  in  circumference,  three  feet  above  the 
ground.  The  trees  within  the  inclosure  are  of  the  usual  size. 

Upon  the  northeastern  slope  of  the  eminence,  within  the  walls 
of  the  inclosure,  and  where  the  soil  is  sandy  and  dry,  are  a 
great  number  of  small  pits  and  depressions  in  the  earth.  They 
are  now  nearly  filled  by  accumulations  of  leaves,  but  they  must 
at  first  have  been  from  four  to  six  feet  in  depth.  Upon  exca 
vating  some  of  them,  it  was  found  that  they  were  the  caches 
in  which  the  former  occupants  of  the  work  had  placed  their 
stores.*  And  although  it  seems  probable  the  original  deposits 
had  been  removed,  considerable  quantities  of  parched  corn,  now 

*  The  term  cache ,  literally  a  hide  or  place  of  concealment,  is  of  French 
origin,  and  has  become  current  among  all  the  traders  and  trappers  on 
the  frontiers.  The  practice  of  caching  or  hiding  goods  or  provisions  on 
outward  marches,  to  be  used  upon  returning,  or  by  parties  following, 
was  derived  from  the  Indians,  among  whom  it  was  general.  A  cache  is 
made  by  digging  a  hole  in  the  ground,  which  is  lined  with  sticks,  grass, 
or  any  material  which  will  protect  the  contents  from  the  dampness  of 
the  earth.  After  the  goods  or  provisions  have  been  deposited,  the  earth 
is  carefully  covered  over,  so  as  best  to  prevent  the  penetration  of  water 
from  above.  "  It  is  often,  in  fact  always  necessary,  at  the  West,  to  leave 
no  signs  by  means  of  which  rival  parties  or  the  cunning  savages  may 
discover  the  place  of  deposit.  To  this  end  the  excavated  earth  is  car 
ried  to  a  distance,  and  carefully  concealed,  or  thrown  into  a  stream,  if 
one  is  near.  The  place  selected  is  usually  some  rolling  point,  sufficient 
ly  elevated  to  be  secure  from  inundations.  If  it  be  well  set  with  grass, 
a  solid  piece  of  the  turf  of  the  size  of  the  proposed  excavation  is  cut 
out.  It  is  afterward  laid  back,  and  taking  root  in  a  short  time,  no 


JEFFERSON    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC'.  19 

carbonized  by  long  exposure,  were  still  to  be  found  within 
them.  There  were,  perhaps,  forty  or  fifty  of  these  excavations 
within  the  walls,  and  several  upon  the  crown  of  the  eminence 
at  C. 

Upon  removing  the  leaves  at  various  points  within  the  work, 
carbonaceous  accumulations,  bones  of  animals,  fragments  of 
pottery,  and  other  evidences  of  occupation  were  discovered.  A 
small  portion  of  the  work,  indicated  on  the  map,  has  been  clear 
ed  and  put  under  cultivation.  Here,  just  exterior  to  the  wall, 
upon  the  brow  of  the  natural  bank,  at  the  spot  marked  d,  sev 
eral  skeletons  have  been  exhumed  by  the  plough.  They  had 
been  buried  in  a  sitting  posture,  and  were  very  well  pre 
served. 

By  the  operation  of  diluvial  causes,  the  drift  has  been  de 
posited,  in  a  very  singular  manner,  upon  the  table-land  upon 
which  the  above  work  is  situated.  In  some  places  it  occurs  in 
long,  narrow  ridges,  conforming  to  the  general  course  of  the 
terrace  bank;  in  others  it  forms  amphitheatres  of  various 
sizes ;  and  in  a  few  instances  it  assumes  a  conical  shape,  re 
sembling  artificial  tumuli.  A  short  distance  to  the  right  of 
the  work  under  notice  is  a  small  natural  amphitheatre,  rising 
in  the  midst  of  the  marshy  grounds,  which  has  been  supposed 
by  some  to  be  artificial.  Its  relative  position  is  indicated  by 
the  letter  e. 

signs  remain  of  its  ever  having  been  molested.  However,  as  every  lo 
cality  does  not  afford  a  turfy  spot,  the  camp-fire  is  sometimes  built 
upon  the  place,  or  the  animals  are  penned  over  it,  which  effectually 
destroys  all  trace  of  the  disturbance."— (Gregg's  Commerce  of  the  Prai 
ries,  vol.  i.  p.  69.)  Father  Hennepin,  in  his  account  of  his  passage  down 
the  Mississippi  River,  in  1680,  describes  an  operation  of  this  kind  in 
the  following  terms :  "  We  took  up  the  green  sod,  and  laid  it  by,  and 
digged  a  hole  in  the  earth,  where  we  put  our  goods,  and  covered  them 
with  pieces  of  timber  and  earth,  and  then  put  in  again  the  green  turf: 
so  that  it  was  impossible  to  suspect  that  any  hole  had  been  digged  un 
der  it,  for  we  flung  the  earth  into  the  river." 


20  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

About  one  and  a  half  miles  southeast  of  the  above  work,  was 
formerly  another  of  perhaps  larger  size.  It  occupied  a  high, 
oval-shaped  hill,  one  side  of  which  is  very  steep,  while  the  other 
subsides  gently  to  the  general  level.  The  embankment  ex 
tended  in  a  semicircular  form  around  that  part  of  the  hill  not 
protected  by  nature ;  and,  previous  to  the  cultivation  of  the 
ground,  was  upwards  of  six  feet  in  height  from  the  bottom  of 
the  trench.  A  very  slight  depression,  and  the  greater  luxu 
riance  of  the  verdure,  resulting  from  the  filling  of  the  trench 
with  surface  loam,  are  all  that  now  indicate  the  original  lines. 
It  is  said  that  there  was  an  avenue  leading  off,  for  some  dis 
tance,  to  the  westward  ;  but  it  is  no  longer  traceable.  At  the 
base  of  this  hill  is  a  bowlder,  in  which  are  several  artificial  de 
pressions,  doubtless  intended  for  mortars,  and  a  variety  of 
grooves,  in  which  the  stone  axes  and  other  implements  of  the 
aborigines  were  rubbed,  in  order  to  reduce  them  to  the  required 
shape. 


PLATE  II.     No.  1. 

Ancient  Work  on  "  Dry  Hill"  five  miles  southeast  of  Water- 
town^  Jefferson  County,  New  York. 

FOLLOWING  the  brow  of  the  terrace  northward  from  the 
work  first  described,  for  about  two  miles,  we  come  to  another 
work  of  somewhat  more  regular  figure,  and  of  larger  dimen 
sions.  Most  of  it  is  under  cultivation,  and  the  outlines  are 
very  much  defaced.  The  embankment,  upon  one  side,  runs 
into  the  forest  land,  where  it  is  well  preserved,  measuring,  per 
haps,  three  feet  in  height.  The  darker  lines  of  the  engraving 
show  what  parts  are  still  distinctly  marked  ;  the  dotted  lines 
those  which  have  been  ploughed  down,  and  which  are  no  longer 
distinguishable  -from  the  general  level,  except  by  the  deeper 
green  and  more  luxuriant  growth  of  the  grass  on  the  line  of  the 


PL  A  TE  JI. 


AGO  (SHE  GOT 

DRY  HILL"  5  M»     S.  E.  OF    WATER  TOWN, 

JfffEKSOMC'  M.Y. 


"  ^  ^ 


400ft  to  tJvalncK- 


2^  Mf    S.  E.  OF   WATERTOWN. 
JEFFERSON  C° M.Y. 


;-  °c,  - '-  °  ^'  *  CW*W/TOW 


^  JJ  j  ?  ^ 

^^^^^^'^ 

"* "     .  > j  .1  ^  •  *  j  . ;  >j 


JT.  (7.  Syuier    S~,  &  21 


JEFFERSON    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  21 

ancient  trench.  The  position  of  the  work,  it  will  be  seen,  cor 
responds  very  nearly  with  that  of  the  one  previously  described. 
There  is,  however,  no  water  near  at  hand,  except  a  limited  sup 
ply  from  a  small  spring.  Nevertheless,  this  seems  to  have  been 
the  site  of  a  very  populous  aboriginal  town.  The  entire  area 
of  the  work  is  covered  with  accumulations  of  carbonaceous  mat 
ter,  burned  stones,  fragments  of  bones,  pottery,  etc.  Indeed, 
these  indications  are  visible  for  some  distance  exterior  to  the 
walls,  upon  the  adjacent  level.  These  artificial  accumulations 
have  rendered  the  soil  within  the  inclosure  extremely  fertile, 
and  it  sustains  most  luxuriant  crops.  In  cultivating  the  area, 
many  fragments  of  human  bones,  some  of  them  burned,  have 
been  observed — suggesting  the  possibility  that  the  ancient  vil 
lage  was  destroyed  by  enemies,  and  that  these  are  the  bones  of 
its  occupants,  who  fell  in  defence  of  their  kindred,  and  were 
burned  in  the  fires  which  consumed  their  lodges.  A  little  to 
the  northward  of  the  work,  there  seems  to  have  been  an  aborig 
inal  cemetery.  Here  the  plough  frequently  exposes  skeletons, 
buried  according  to  the  Indian  mode,  and  accompanied  by  va 
rious  rude  relics  of  stone  and  bone.  Within  and  around  the 
work  are  also  found  stone  axes,  flint  arrow-heads,  and  other 
remnants  of  savage  art.  Fragments  of  pottery  and  broken 
pipes  of  clay  are,  however,  most  abundant.  Of  these  bushels 
might  be  collected  without  much  difficulty. 

It  is  clear  that  this  work  was  not  intended  as  a  place  of  last 
resort,  but  was  occupied  by  a  considerable  population  for  a  long 
period.  It  was  undoubtedly  a  fortified  town.  It  should  be 
remarked,  that  although  now  nearly  or  quite  filled  up,  here 
were  originally  a  number  of  pits  (popularly  known  as  wells)  of 
considerable  size — the  caches  of  the  ancient  occupants. 


22  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

PLATE  II.     No.  2. 

Ancient   Work  two  and  a  half  miles  southeast  of  Watertown, 
Jefferson  County,  New  York. 

STILL  continuing  along  the  brow  of  the  terrace  northward, 
for  two  and  a  half  or  three  miles,  we  reach  a  third  work,  the 
greater  part  of  which  is  covered  with  forest,  and  is  consequently 
well  preserved.  It  is  much  smaller  than  any  of  those  before 
described,  and  is  bounded  by  a  series  of  right  lines,  slightly 
rounded  at  the  angles,  which  gives  it  something  of  the  appear 
ance  of  a  modern  field-work.  The  slope  of  the  terrace  bank  is 
here  comparatively  gentle,  and  there  is  a  step  or  table  about 
midway  from  the  brow  to  the  base.  Here  a  number  of  springs 
start  out,  below  the  stratum  of  rock.  Formerly  the  walls  of 
the  work  were  continued  down  "the  slope,  toward  the  springs, 
as  indicated  by  the  dotted  lines  in  the  plan.  They  are  not  now 
to  be  traced  further  than  the  edge  of  the  terrace.  The  position 
of  this  work  is  remarkably  fine,  and  was  selected  with  taste  and 
skill.  The  table-land  immediately  around  it  is  level ;  the  soil 
gravelly  and  dry.  There  seems  to  have  been  a  burial-place  in 
this  vicinity,  and  pipes  and  fragments  of  pottery  are  of  common 
occurrence.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  remaining  portion  of 
this  work  will  be  preserved  from  the  encroachments  of  the 
plough. 


PLATE  III.     No.  1. 

Ancient  Work  half  a  mile  west  of  Burrvitye,  near  Watertown, 
Jefferson  County,  New  York. 

A  WORK,  differing  somewhat  from  those  before  described,  is 
situated  two  miles  north  of  the  inclosure  last  noticed,  upon  a 
high  promontory  or  headland,  half  a  mile  west  of  the  little 
village  of  Burrville.  The  northern  base  of  this  promontory  is 


PLATE  Iff. 


?  I. 


HALF    A    MILE     WEST     OF     BURRVILLE, 
JBFFEKSOM    C°    M.   Y. 


SCALE. 

400  ff  U>  the  LuX. 


EG  J 'fu.ua-  ,18  «  8, 


PUTiAND  TP.  JEFFERSON   C?    M.Y. 


LE   RAY     TP.  JEFFERSON  C9   N.Y. 


. 


JEFFERSON    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  23 

washed  by  a  small  and  rapid  stream,  a  branch  of  the  east  fork 
of  Sandy  Creek.  Deep  ravines  lend  strength  to  the  position 
on  the  remaining  sides,  except  toward  the  west,  where  it  joins 
the  highlands.  Here,  extending  across  the  neck  of  the  pro 
montory,  (the  only  direction  from  which  access  is  easy,)  was 
formerly  an  artificial  defence,  consisting  of  an  embankment  of 
earth  and  a  trench.  The  plough  has  filled  the  one  and  lev 
eled  the  other,  but  the  lines  can  still  be  accurately  traced  by 
attending  to  the  various  circumstances  already  repeatedly  men 
tioned.  At  the  part  marked  a,  was  formerly  a  large  deep  pit, 
resembling  the  cellar  of  a  dwelling-house.  At  b,  was  also  an 
accumulation  of  large  stones,  bearing  traces  of  fire ;  and  which 
the  early  settlers,  indulging  in  vague  notions  of  the  mineral 
wealth  of  the  country,  called  "  the  Furnace" 

Most  of  these  stones  were  used  to  fill  the  pit  near  by ;  but 
enough  still  remain  to  mark  the  site  of  the  supposed  "furnace." 
Whenever  the  land  in  this  work  is  ploughed  over,  many  relics 
of  art  are  disclosed,  fragments  of  pottery,  broken  pipes,  imple 
ments  of  stone  and  bone,  beads  of  similar  materials,  etc.,  etc. 

About  a  mile  northeast  of  this  place,  upon  a  fine  level  tract 
of  ground,  are  the  traces  of  an  aboriginal  village.  Rude  fire 
places,  constructed  of  rough  stones  huddled  together,  and  sur 
rounded  by  carbonaceous  accumulations,  sometimes  two  feet 
deep,  mark  the  site  of  the  ancient  lodges.  These  indications 
are  numerous.  Here,  too,  are  to  be  found  relics,  entirely  cor 
responding  with  those  already  noticed,  as  occurring  within  and 
around  the  ancient  inclosures. 


24  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

PLATE  III.     No.  2. 

Ancient  Work,  Rutland  Township,  Jefferson  County,  New  York. 

THE  slightest  and  much  the  rudest  structure  discovered  in 
Jefferson  county,  is  the  one  here  delineated.  It  is  situated 
about  a  hundred  rods  back  from  the  brow  of  the  terrace, 
already  so  often  referred  to,  and  which  here  rises  abruptly 
from  the  inferior  level,  presenting  a  bold,  and,  in  some  places, 
a  precipitous  bank. 

Notwithstanding  its  elevation,  this  terrace  has  numberless 
depressions  or  basins,  which  are  wet  and  marshy.  Upon  a 
slight  elevation,  in  the  midst  of  one  of  these,  and  still  covered 
with  a  primitive  forest,  is  the  work  in  question.  It  will  be  ob 
served  that  it  is  exceedingly  irregular,  and  that  the  lines  are 
interrupted  by  several  wide  openings,  which  are  quite  too  broad 
to  be  regarded  as  gateways. 

The  embankment  is  not  of  uniform  dimensions.  In  some 
places  it  is  elevated  but  a  foot  or  eighteen  inches,  by  four  or 
five  feet  base,  while  in  others  it  is  perhaps  three  feet  in  height. 
The  ditch  is  also  irregular — in  sections  scarcely  exceeding  a 
large  plough  furrow  in  depth  and  width.  In  fact,  the  work 
seems  imperfect,  and  to  have  been  constructed  in  haste  for 
temporary  purposes.  Within  the  area,  which  is  quite  uneven, 
are  several  small  accumulations  of  stones,  which  bear  the  marks 
of  fire.  Upon  removing  some  of  them,  the  proprietor  of  the 
ground  found  ashes  and  other  burnt  matter,  among  which 
was  a  carbonized  ear  of  maize.  A  small  but  entire  vessel  of 
pottery,  of  considerable  symmetry  of  shape,  was  also  found 
here  some  years  ago. 

Human  bones  have  been  discovered  beneath  the  leaves ;  and 
in  nearly  every  part  of  the  trench  skeletons  of  adults  of  both 
sexes,  of  children  and  infants,  have  been  found,  covered  only  by 
the  vegetable  accumulations.  They  seem  to  have  been  thrown 
together  promiscuously.  They  have  also  been  found  in  a  nar- 


JEFFERSON    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  25 

row  depression  resembling  an  artificial  trench,  indicated  by  a 
dotted  line  in  the  plan,  and  caused  by  the  subsidence  of  the 
earth  in  a  cleft  of  the  limestone  substratum.  These  skeletons, 
from  all  accounts,  do  not  seem  to  have  been  much  decayed,  and 
no  difficulty  was  experienced  in  recovering  them  entire.  The 
skulls  were  in  some  cases  fractured,  as  if  by  a  blow  from  a 
hatchet  or  club.  These  circumstances  would  seem  to  imply, 
not  only  that  the  work  is  of  comparatively  late  construction, 
but  also  that  this  was  the  scene  of  one  of  those  indiscriminate 
massacres  so  common  in  the  history  of  savage  warfare. 

From  the  bank  of  the  terrace,  near  this  work,  a  very  exten 
sive  and  beautiful  prospect  is  commanded. 


PLATE  III.     No.  3. 

Ancient  Work,  half  a  mile  west  of  Lockport,  Jefferson  County, 
New  York. 

THE  remaining  works  of  Jefferson  county,  so  far  as  investi 
gated,  are  situated  on  lower  grounds,  generally  near  streams, 
which  are  made  subservient  to  art  for  purposes  of  defence. 
The  work  here  presented  is  a  good  example.  It  is  situated  on 
Black  River  (Ka-me-hargo),  in  Le  Ray  township,  half  a  mile 
below  the  little  manufacturing  town  of  Lockport.  The  banks 
of  the  river  are  here  very  high,  and  quite  inaccessible.  The 
character  of  the  work  is  well  shown  in  the  engraving,  and  needs 
little  explanation  beyond  what  that  affords.  It  will  be  seen 
that  the  ends  of  the  embankment  extend  for  a  short  distance 
down  the  slope  of  the  river  bank,  and  then  curve  slightly  in 
wards,  as  though  designed  to  prevent  the  flanks  being  turned 
by  an  enemy.  The  lines,  where  they  cross  the  road,  and  be 
tween  the  road  and  the  river,  are  very  distinct,  and  the  em 
bankment  is  between  three  and  four  feet  in  height.  The  rest 
of  the  work  may  be  traced  without  much  difficulty,  although  it 
2 


26  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

has  long  been  under  cultivation.  Upon  the  wall,  at  the  point 
indicated  by  the  letter  c,  is  still  standing  a  pine  stump,  upwards 
of  three  feet  in  diameter,  probably  having  an  age  of  not  less 
than  four  hundred  years.  The  usual  relics  are  found  within 
the  area  of  the  inclosure ;  and  in  the  natural  bank  at  d,  a 
number  of  skeletons  have  been  disclosed  by  the  plough.  They 
are  much  decayed,  but  in  respect  of  position  correspond  with 
those  found  elsewhere  in  Indian  cemeteries. 


PLATE  IV.     No.  1. 

Ancient  Work,  Le  Ray  Township,  six  miles  northeast  of  Water- 

town. 

IN  the  same  township  with  the  foregoing  work,  and  about  four 
miles  distant,  in  a  northwest  direction,  is  the  work  here  repre 
sented.  It  occupies  a  small  sandy  elevation,  situated  in  the 
midst  of  low  grounds.  It  is  lozenge-shaped,  and  is  the  most 
regular  of  any  ancient  structure  which  has  fallen  under  the  no 
tice  of  the  author  in  the  State.  Where  the  lines  are  interrupted 
on  the  north,  the  ground  is  considerably  elevated,  and  subsides 
abruptly,  precluding  the  necessity  of  an  embankment  for  de 
fensive  purposes.  The  sites  of  the  ancient  lodges,  indicated  by 
heaps  of  burned  stones,  calcined  shells,  fragments  of  pottery, 
etc.,  are  yet  to  be  traced,  notwithstanding  that  the  land  has 
been  for  a  considerable  time  under  cultiyation.  Near  this  work 
skeletons  have  been  frequently  exhumed. 


iv: 


?  J 


"-•1%  Acres:     • 


LE   RAY    TP.    JEFFERSON  C?  N.Y. 
6  Miles  !f.E.  <//   WutertoWH,. 


ie>-    (848, 


LE    RAY    TP.  JEFFERSON  C?  N.Y. 

Tteaj- 
Sandford's  Cor-nCr- 


£.6.  Syaier  1848 


N.  PART  OF  EILISBURQH   T  P.  JEFF  ERSON  C*  N  Y 


ELLISBURGH  TP.JEF  FERSON.C0.  N.Y- 
2h  Mat 


JEFFERSON    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  27 

PLATE  IV.     No.  2. 

Ancient  Work,  Le  Ray  Township,  Jefferson  County,  New  York. 

THREE  miles  to  the  westward  of  the  inclosure  last  described, 
near  "  Sandford's  Corners,"  was  formerly  another  work  of  sim 
ilar  character,  but  larger  size.  Only  a  small  portion  of  the 
embankment  is  yet  visible ;  the  dotted  lines,  however,  show 
the  original  outlines,  according  to  the  recollection  of  those  who 
were  acquainted  with  the  work  before  it  was  disturbed.  The 
walls  were  then  not  less  than  six  feet  in  height,  measuring  from 
the  bottom  of  the  trench. 

Within  the  area  are  found  great  numbers  of  the  shells  of 
the  fresh-water  molluscas,  accumulations  of  burnt  matter,  quan 
tities  of  pottery  in  fragments,  with  broken  pipes,  etc.  Some  of 
the  pipes  are  of  good  workmanship  and  fine  finish.  In  this 
vicinity,  also,  have  skeletons  been  found ;  all  buried  in  a  sit 
ting  posture. 

Several  other  works  formerly  existed  in  this  township,  but 
they  have  been  either  entirely  or  in  great  part  obliterated. 
One  is  spoken  of  near  Felt's  Mills,  but  no  opportunity  was 
afforded  of  examining  it. 


PLATE  IV.     Nos.  3  AND  4. 

Ancient  Works  in  Ellisburgh  Township,  Jefferson  County, 
New  York. 

A  NUMBER  of  ancient  works  formerly  existed  in  Ellisburgh,  one 
of  the  southern  towns  of  the  county.  Plate  IV.,  No.  3,  is  one 
of  those  which  are  yet  perfect.  It  presents  no  novel  features ; 
is  protected  in  the  usual  manner,  and  has  the  usual  relics  and 
traces  of  occupancy  within  its  walls.  Three  quarters  of  a  mile 
to  the  eastward  is  another  similar,  but  larger  work  (Plate  IV., 


28  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

No.  4),  which  has  been  very  nearly  obliterated  by  the  plough. 
The  sections  indicated  in  the  engraving  are  yet  quite  distinct ; 
nor  can  the  parts  supplied  differ  very  materially  from  the  origi 
nal  lines.  Perhaps  no  work  in  the  State  has  more  decided 
evidences  of  aboriginal  occupation.  The  entire  area  is  covered 
with  traces  of  ancient  habitations,  and  with  relics  of  art — pot 
tery,  ornaments,  and  implements.  Exterior  to  the  walls,  in  all 
directions,  but  particularly  on  the  level  grounds  between  the 
two  works,  the  same  indications  .are  abundant.  Indeed,  the 
artificial  accumulations  are  so  great  as  materially  to  augment 
the  fertility  of  the  soil.  Caches  have  been  observed  here,  in 
some  of  which  the  present  proprietor  of  the  grounds  has  found 
a  number  of  bushels  of  parched  corn,  carbonized  by  long  ex 
posure.  It  is  scattered  over  the  surface,  and  after  rains  may 
be  collected  in  considerable  quantities.  Here,  too,  have  been 
found  skeletons  buried  according  to  the  usual  custom. 

The  aboriginal  population  must  have  been  very  large  at  this 
spot,  which,  both  in  respect  of  soil  and  the  close  proximity  of 
springs  and  pure  streams,  affords  a  most  beautiful  site  for  an 
Indian  village. 

About  a  mile  to  the  southward  of  this  group,  upon  the  land 
of  Mr.  Mendall,  was  another  work,  of  which  no  trace  now 
remains.  Another  occurred  at  a  place  called  Clark's  Settle 
ment,  still  another  at  Ellis'  Settlement,  and  others  in  various 
parts  of  the  township,  concerning  which  no  definite  information 
can  now  be  obtained. 

Near  the  neat  and  pretty  village  of  Pierrepoint's  Manor,  is 
also  the  site  of  an  ancient  town,  undistinguishable  from  the 
fortified  village  already  described,  except  by  the  absence  of  an 
embankment  and  trench.  Large  quantities  of  relics  have  been 
recovered  here.  A  work  of  considerable  size  was  visible  until 
within  a  few  years,  half  or  three  fourths  of  a  mile  northwest  of 
the  village  of  Adams,  on  the  lands  of  Mr.  W.  Benton.  It  is 
described  by  Mr.  Justus  Eddy,  in  a  letter  to  the  author,  as 
having  been  semicircular  in  form,  five  hundred  feet  in  diameter, 


JEFFERSON    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  29 

and  the  open  segment  facing  or  rather  opening  toward  a 
marshy  piece  of  ground,  through  which  flowed  a  small  stream. 
There  were  two  or  three  breaks,  or  passage-ways,  in  the  em 
bankments.  At  the  time  of  the  settlement  of  this  part  of  the 
country  by  the  whites,  about  fifty  years  ago,  trees  two  and 
three  feet  in  diameter  were  growing  upon  the  wall,  and  within 
the  area.  The  embankment  was  then  between  three  and  four 
feet  in  height.  Within  the  work  were  found  quantities  of  pot 
tery,  pipes,  and  beads,  covered  with  ornamental  figures.  A 
star-shaped  silver  ornament,  bearing  the  initials  P.  H.,  was  also 
found.  It  was  quite  thin,  not  exceeding  the  common  sixpence 
in  thickness. 

Upon  an  island,  outside  of  Sackett's  Harbor,  known  as 
Snow-shoe  Island,  it  is  said,  there  are  traces  of  an  ancient 
work.  So  far  as  could  be  gathered,  it  had  been  a  palisaded 
structure,  unaccompanied  by  an  embankment. 

Besides  the  various  earth-works  above  described,  there  are  a 
number  of  other  interesting  objects  of  antiquarian  interest  in 
this  county.  Among  them  may  be  mentioned  the  "bone-pits" 
or  deposits  of  human  bones.  One  is  found  near  the  village  of 
Brownsville,  on  Black  River.  It  is  described  as  a  pit,  ten  or 
twelve  feet  square,  by  perhaps  four  feet  deep,  in  which  are  pro 
miscuously  heaped  together  a  large  number  of  human  skeletons. 
It  will  be  seen,  ultimately,  that  these  accumulations  owe  their 
origin  to  a  remarkable  custom,  common  to  many  of  the  Indian 
tribes,  of  collecting  and  depositing  together  the  bones  of  their 
dead,  at  stated  intervals.  Another  pit,  very  unlike  this,  how 
ever,  exists  about  three  miles  east  of  "Watertown.  It  is  situ 
ated  upon  the  slope  of  a  hill,  and  was  originally  marked  by  a 
number  of  large  stones  heaped  over  it.  Upon  removing  these 
and  excavating  beneath  them,  a  pit  about  six  feet  square,  and 
four  deep,  was  discovered,  filled  with  human  bones,  all  well 
preserved,  but  in  fragments.  Upwards  of  forty  pairs  of  the 
patella  were  counted,  showing  that  at  least  that  number  of 
skeletons  had  been  deposited  in  the  pit.  It  is  said  that  the 


30 


ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 


bones,  when  first  exhumed,  exhibited  marks  such  as  would 
result  from  the  gnawing  of  wild  animals ;  and  from  this  circum 
stance,  and  the  fact  that  they  were  so  much  broken  up,  it  has 
been  very  plausibly  supposed  that  these  are  the  bones  of  some 
party,  which  had  been  cut  off  by  enemies,  and  whose  remains 
were  subsequently  collected  and  buried  by  their  friends.  All 
the  bones  are  those  of  adults.  Many  of  the  fragments  have 
been  removed  and  scattered,  but  several  bushels  yet  remain. 
No  relics  of  any  kind  were  found  with  them. 

A  large  mound  is  said  to  occur  "  about  one  mile  from  Wash- 
ingtonville,  and  eleven  from  Adams,  on  a  cross-road  from  the 
'  ridge  road,'  leading  from  Lamb's  tavern  to  Washingtonville. 
It  is  conical  in  shape,  and  thirty  feet  high."  It  is  questionable 
whether  this  is  artificial. 


OSWEGO    COUNTY. 

A  GREAT  part  of  this  county  is  low  and  wet,  and  it  is  not 
generally  so  well  adapted  to  sustain  an  aboriginal  population 
as  the  adjoining  counties  of  Jefferson  and  Onondaga.  Few 
ancient  monuments  occur  within  its  limits ;  and  concerning 
these,  little  was  ascertained  in  the  course  of  these  investiga 
tions.  The  following  facts  were  chiefly  derived  from  J.  V.  H. 
Clark,  Esq.,  of  Manlius,  Onondaga  county,  whose  attention  was 
especially  called  thereto  in  the  preparation  of  his  forthcoming 
History  of  the  Onondaga  and  Oswego  Country.  Two  inclo- 
sures,  elliptical  in  form,  existed  in  Granby  township,  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  county.  One  of  these  occurred  on  State's 
Hundred,  lot  24.  Each  contained  about  two  acres,  and  both 
had  gateways  opening  to  the  east.  The  ditch,  in  each  case, 
was  exterior  to  the  walls.  Another  formerly  existed  near 


ONONDAGA    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  31 

Phillipsville,  of  which  no  traces  now  remain  ;  and  still  another 
is  said  to  occur  in  Granby  township,  near  "Little  Utica,"  in  a 
bend  of  Ox  Creek.  Near  the  town  of  Fulton,  on  the  west  side 
of  Oswego  River,  is  an  eminence  called  "J3o?ie  Hill"  in  which 
have  been  found  great  numbers  of  human  bones  promiscuously 
heaped  together.  They  are  much  decayed.  Intermixed  with 
them  were  discovered  a  number  of  flint  arrow-heads.  It  is 
probable  that  none  of  these  remains  possessed  features  differing 
essentially  from  those  of  other  parts  of  the  State.  ', 


ONONDAGA   COUNTY. 

PROBABLY  no  county  in  the  State  had  originally  a  greater 
number  of  aboriginal  monuments  within  its  boundaries,  than 
the  county  of  Onondaga.  It  has,  however,  been  so  long  settled, 
and  so  generally  brought  under  cultivation,  that  nearly  all  ves 
tiges  of  its  ancient  remains  have  disappeared.  The  sites  of 
many  are,  however,  still  remembered  ;  but  even  these  will  soon 
be  forgotten.  It  is  a  fortunate  circumstance  that  the  antiqui 
ties  of  this  county  were  the  first  to  attract  the  attention  of 
observers,  and  our  accounts  relating  to  them  are  more  com 
plete  than  concerning  those  of  the  other  parts  of  the  State. 
Our  principal  source  of  information  respecting  their  numbers, 
localities,  and  character,  is  the  memoir  of  De  Witt  Clinton, 
already  several  times  alluded  to.  Mr.  Schoolcraft  and  Mr.  J. 
V.  H.  Clark,  of  Manlius,  have  presented  additional  informa 
tion  ;  and  from  these  authorities  we  derive  most  of  the  facts, 
and  illustrations  which  follow. 

Ancient  works  occurred  in  the  towns  of  Fabius,  De  Witt, 
Lafayette,  Camillus,  Onondaga,  Manlius,  Elbridge,  and  Pom- 
pey  ;  but  of  many  of  them  we  know  nothing  beyond  the  simple 


32  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

fact  of  their  former  existence.  It  should  be  mentioned  that 
some  of  the  townships  here  named  have  been  erected  within 
the  last  few  years,  and  since  the  date  of  Mr.  Clinton's  Me 
moir. 

Those  in  Elbridge,  according  to  Mr.  Clinton,  occurred  near 
the  village  of  that  name,  about  four  miles  from  Seneca  River, 
upon  lands  then  (1817)  occupied  by  Judge  Munro.  They 
were  two  in  number.  "  One  was  on  a  very  high  hill,  and  cov 
ered  three  acres.  It  had  a  gateway  opening  toward  the  east ; 
and  upon  the  west  was  another,  communicating  with  a  spring 
about  ten  rods  from  the  fort.  It  was  elliptical  in  shape :  the 
ditch  deep,  and  the  eastern  wall  eight  feet  high.  The  stump 
of  a  black-oak  tree,  certainly  one  hundred  years  old,  stood 
upon  the  embankment.  The  second  work  was  about  half  a 
mile  distant,  upon  lower  grounds.  It  was  constructed  like 
the  first,  but  was  only  half  as  large.  *  *  *  *  The  early 
settlers  observed,  in  this  vicinity,  the  shells  of  testaceous  ani 
mals  accumulated,  in  several  places,  in  considerable  masses, 
together  with  numerous  fragments  of  pottery.  Judge  Munro 
found,  in  digging  the  cellar  of  his  house,  several  pieces  of 
burned  clay ;  and,  in  various  places,  large  spots  of  deep  black 
mould,  demonstrating  the  former  existence  of  buildings  or 
erections  of  some  kind.  At  one  place  he  observed  what 
appeared  to  be  a  well,  viz.,  a  hole  ten  feet  deep,  and  the  earth 
much  caved  in.  Upon  digging  to  the  depth  of  three  and  a 
half  feet,  he  came  to  a  quantity  of  flints,  below  which  he  found 
a  great  number  of  human  bones."  This  disposition  of  the 
dead,  Mr.  Clinton  conjectures,  was  made  by  an  enemy ;  but  we 
shall  soon  see  that  it  probably  owed  its  existence  to  the  prac- 
\,  tice  of  gathering  the  bones  of  the  dead  at  stated  intervals,  and 
depositing  them  in  pits — a  practice  common  among  the  Hu- 
rons  and  other  Indians  around  the  great  lakes. 

Mr.  Clark  has  described  some  aboriginal  remains  in  this 
township,  which  are  probably  the  same  ones  alluded  to  by  Mr. 
Clinton.  He  says:  "Upon  lot  81,  N.  E.  part,  on  lands  now 


ONONDAGA  COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,  ETC.       33 

occupied  by  Mr.  John  Munro  (previously  the  Judge  Munro 
farm)  was  formerly  a  fort  situated  on  high  ground.  In  1 793 
the  ditch  and  embankment  were  easily  to  be  traced.  Large  trees 
stood  upon  the  wall  and  in  the  ditch.  The  work  was  square, 
except  that  the  line  of  embankment  toward  the  west  curved 
slightly  outward.  The  area  was  about  an  acre  and  a  quarter. 
The  walls  were  about  two  feet  high ;  the  gateway  opened 
toward  the  west,  and  was  twelve  feet  wide.  It  was  situated  on 
a  beautiful  eminence,  nearly  surrounded  by  ravines." 

"  About  half  a  mile  N.  W.  of  this  work,"  continues  Mr.  Clark, 
"  on  what  is  called  the  Purdy  lot,  was  another  work  of  larger 
dimensions,  containing  about  four  and  a  half  acres  of  ground. 
It  is  situated  upon  one  of  the  most  considerable  elevations  of 
the  town,  and  is  nearly  or  quite  square,  with  gateways  opening 
to  the  east  and  west.  The  embankment  was  originally  about 
three  feet  high,  and  an  oak  tree,  two  feet  in  diameter,  was 
standing  upon  it.  On  the  south  side  were  numerous  holes, 
about  two  feet  deep  and  six  feet  apart.  Large  quantities  of 
broken  pottery  and  fresh  water  shells  are  still  found  here.  An 
oaken  chest  was  discovered  here,  somewhere  about  the  year 
1800,  which  contained  a  quantity  of  silk  goods.  The  folds  and 
colors  were  easily  distinguishable,  but  the  fabric  crumbled  on 
exposure.  Some  copper  coins,  it  is  said,  were  found  with  the 
silks. 

"  On  lot  84,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Mr.  Caleb  Brown, 
about  forty  rods  south  of  the  road,  was  formerly  a  circular  work, 
of  upwards  of  three  acres'  area.  The  embankment  was  about 
two  feet  high,  the  ditch  exterior  and  four  or  five  feet  deep. 
There  was  a  wide  gateway  upon  the  west  side,  and  a  smaller 
one  on  the  northeast,  opening  toward  a  spring,  some  rods  distant. 
In  digging  near  the  western  gateway,  fragments  of  timber, 
bearing  marks  of  edge  tools,  were  found ;  and  in  an  excavation 
called  a  well,  fourteen  feet  deep,  a  quantity  of  charred  Indian 
corn  was  discovered.  Upon  the  site  of  Mr.  Brown's  house  and 
garden,  was  also  an  ancient  circular  work,  inclosing  about  an 
2* 


34  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

acre  of  ground.  Within  it  were  cinders,  charcoal,  etc.,  as  if  it 
had  been  the  site  of  a  blacksmith's  shop." 

"  In  the  town  of  Pompey,"  continues  Mr.  Clinton,  "  is  the 
highest  ground  in  the  county,  separating  the  waters  flowing 
into  the  Chesapeake  and  the  Gulf  of  St.  Lawrence.  The  most 
elevated  portions  of  the  town  exhibit  the  remains  of  ancient 
settlements,  and  in  various  places  the  traces  of  a  numerous 
population  appear.  About  two  miles  south  from  Manlius 
Square,  in  this  township,  I  examined  the  remains  of  a  large 
town,  which  were  obviously  indicated  by  large  spots  of  black 
mould,  at  intervals  of  a  few  paces  asunder,  in  which  I  observed 
bones  of  animals,  ashes,  carbonized  grains  of  corn,  etc. — denoting 
the  residence  of  human  beings.  This  town  must  have  extended 
at  least  half  a  mile  from  east  to  west,  and  three  quarters  of  a 
mile  from  north  to  south.  On  the  east  side  of  this  old  town 
there  is  a  perpendicular  descent  of  one  hundred  feet,  into  a 
deep  ravine,  through  which  flows  a  fine  stream  of  water.  Upon 
the  north  side  is  a  similar  ravine.  Here  there  are  graves,  on 
each  side  of  the  ravine,  close  to  the  precipice.  Some  of  the 
graves  contain  five  or  six  skeletons,  promiscuously  thrown  to 
gether.  On  the  south  bank  of  the  ravine,  gun-barrels,  bullets, 
pieces  of  lead,  and  a  skull  perforated  by  a  bullet  have  been 
found.  Indeed,  relics  of  this  kind  are  scattered  all  over  these 
grounds.  A  mile  to  the  eastward  of  this  town,  there  is  a  cem 
etery,  containing  three  or  four  acres ;  and  to  the  westward  of 
it  is  still  another. 

"  There  are,  in  this  vicinity,  three  old  forts,  placed  in  a  tri 
angular  position,  and  within  eight  miles  of  each  other.  One 
is  about  a  mile  south  of  Jamesville  [in  the  present  town  of  De 
Witt],  the  second  in  a  northeastern,  and  the  third  in  a  south 
eastern  direction.  They  are  circular  or  elliptical  in  form  ; 
bones  are  found  scattered  over  their  areas  ;  and  standing  on  a 
heap  of  mouldering  ashes,  within  one  of  them,  I  saw  a  white 
pine-tree,  eight  and  a  half  feet  in  circumference,  and  at  least 
one  hundred  and  thirty  years  old." 


ONONDAGA    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC. 


35 


Mr.  Clinton  expresses  the  opinion  that  the  three  "forts" 
were  designed  to  protect  the  "town,"  the  vestiges  of  which  at 
tracted  his  attention ;  and  he  even  goes  so  far  as  to  conjecture, 
from  the  occurrence  of  bones  upon  the  brows  of  the  northern 
ravine,  that  the  attack  by  which  the  town  was  destroyed  was 
made  from  this  direction  !  Of  course  this  is  wholly  suppositi 
tious.  The  relics  of  European  art,  scattered  over  the  site,  show 
clearly  enough  that  this  was  an  Indian  village,  occupied  by  the 
savages  subsequent  to  the  commencement  of  intercourse  with 
the  whites.  The  traces  which  Mr.  Clinton  describes  are  pre 
cisely  those  which  mark  the  site  of  every  abandoned  Indian 
settlement  throughout  the  country.  This  county  possessed  a 
very  heavy  aboriginal  population  ;  probably  greater  than  any 
equal  extent  of  territory  north  of  the  Floridas ;  and  it  is  not 
surprising,  therefore,  that  the  traces  of  ancient  occupancy  are 
so  abundant.*  Mr.  Clinton  states  that  it  was  estimated  there 
were  not  less  than  eighty  cemeteries  in  Pompey  township 
alone.  McCauley  states  that  one  of  the  three  works,  mentioned 
above  by  Mr.  Clinton,  was  triangular  in  form,  and  contained 
about  six  acres. 

Mr.  J.  Y.  H.  Clark  has  described  a  work  situated  in  part  of 
lot  33  in  this  township;  but  whether  or  not  it  is  one  of  the  three 
mentioned  by  Mr.  Clinton,  it  is  impossible  to  determine.  "  It 
is  about  four  miles  southeast  from  Manlius  village,  situated  on 
a  slight  eminence,  which  is  nearly  surrounded  by  a  deep  ravine, 
the  banks  of  which  are  quite  steep  and  somewhat  rocky.  The 

*Mr.  Schoolcraft  states,  on  the  authority  of  Le  Fort,  late  chief  of  the 
Onondagas,  that  Ondiaka,  the  great  chronicler  of  his  tribe,  informed  him, 
on  his  last  journey  to  Oneida,  that  in  ancient  times,  before  they  had 
fixed  their  settlements  at  Onondaga,  and  before  the  Five  Nations  were 
confederated,  the  Onondagas  lived  below  Jamesville  and  in  Pompey ; 
that  in  consequence  of  continued  warfare  with  other  tribes,  they  removed 
their  villages  frequently ;  and  that,  after  the  confederation,  their  for 
tifications  being  no  longer  necessary,  they  were  allowed  to  fall  into 
decay.  This,  he  believed,  was  the  origin  of  the  ancient  works  at  these 
points. — Notes  on  the  Iroquois,  p.  442. 


86  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

ravine  is  in  shape  somewhat  like  an  ox-bow,  made  by  two  streams 
which  pass  nearly  around  and  then  unite.  Across  this  isthmus 
of  this  peninsula,  if  we  may  so  call  it,  was  a  wall  of  earth  run 
ning  from  northeast  to  southwest.  When  first  discovered  by 
the  early  settlers,  the  embankment  was  straight,  four  or  five 
feet  high,  with  an  exterior  ditch  from  two  to  three  feet  deep. 
The  area  thus  inclosed  is  from  ten  to  twelve  acres.  A  portion 
of  the  area  was  free  from  trees,  and  was  called  the  Prairie^  and 
is  still  noted  among  the  old  men  as  the  spot  where  the  first 
battalion  military  training  was  held  in  the  county  of  Onondaga. 
But  that  portion  of  the  work  near  the  wall  has  recently  been 
cleared  of  a  heavy  growth  of  black-oak  timber.  Many  of  the 
trees  were  large,  and  probably  one  hundred  and  fifty  or  two 
hundred  years  old.  Some  were  standing  in  the  ditch,  and 
others  on  the  embankment.  The  plough  has  defaced  the  lines 
to  a  considerable  degree,  but  they  may  still  be  traced  the  whole 
extent.  Within  the  inclosure  there  is  a  burial-place.  Here, 
too,  are  to  be  found  numerous  fragments  of  dark-brown  pottery, 
of  coarse  material."* 

Mr.  Clark  mentions  that  a  great  number  of  rude  relics  have 
been  discovered  here.  Among  other  things  found  in  the  vicin 
ity  were  some  small  three-pound  cannon  balls.  There  is  a  large 
rock  in  the  ravine  on  the  south,  on  which  the  following  charac 
ters  are  inscribed,  viz. :  IIIIIX.  They  are  cut  nine  inches 
long,  three-quarters  of  an  inch  deep,  and  the  same  in  width,  and 
are  perfectly  regular. 

Mr.  Clark  describes  another  ancient  work  "situated  on  a  hill, 
about  a  mile  and  a  half  south  of  Delphi  in  this  township,  on  lot 
No.  100.  It  has  an  area  of  about  eight  acres,  and  occupies  an 
elevated  piece  of  ground,  surrounded  by  a  ravine  made  by  two 
small  streams  which  pass  around  it  and  unite  on  the  north.  It 
had  a  large  gateway  upon  the  north  and  a  smaller  one  on  the 
south.  Before  the  first  was  a  kind  of  mound.  The  defences 

*  Sclioolcraft's  Notes  on  the  Iroquois,  p.  469. 


ONONDAGA  COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,  ETC. 


37 


consisted  of  a  ditch  and  pickets.  At  every  place  where  a  picket 
stood,  a  slight  depression  is  still  distinctly  visible.  In  one  cor 
ner  were  evident  marks  of  a  blacksmith's  shop,  including  various 
smith's  tools,  a  bed  of  cinders,  and  a  deposit  of  charcoal.  Be 
neath  one  of  these  piles  was  found,  en  cache,  a  quantity  of  charred 
Indian  corn,  and  squash,  and  pumpkin  seeds.  A  short  distance 
to  the  south  of  the  work  is  an  extensive  cemetery,  in  which  the 
bodies  were  buried  in  rows."  Quantities  of  the  implements  and 


FIG.  2. 

trinkets  introduced  among  the  Indians,  at  the  period  of  the  first 
European  intercourse,  are  found  with  the  skeletons.  The  pal 
isades  were  set  in  the  bottom  of  the  ditch,  which,  when  first 
known,  was  six  feet  deep.  About  a  mile  west  from  this,  are 
the  remains  of  another  work  of  similar  character ;  and  about  a 
mile  north  of  Delphi,  on  a  farm  owned  by  a  Mr.  Sheldon,  is 
still  another.  Around  a  number  of  these  works,  the  corn  hills 
of  the  Indians  could  be  traced  for  a  long  period  after  the  occu 
pation  of  the  country  by  the  whites.  Medals,  crosses,  gun-bar 
rels,  knives,  axes — in  short,  every  variety  of  articles  introduced 
by  the  Europeans  after  the  discovery,  are  to  be  found  here  in 
abundance. 

Perhaps  the  most  interesting  work,  of  which  any  traces  yet 


• 


38 


ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 


remain  in  Pompey  township,  is  the  one  of  which  Mr.  Clark 
gives  the  accompanying  plan,  and  which  occurs  on  lot  No.  3, 
on  land  owned  by  Mr.  Isaac  Keeler. 


•V     B 


A.     *."- 


FIG.  3. 
B,  parapet — A,  mounds — C,  look  out — D.  palisades. 

Mr.  Clark  describes  this  work  as  follows :  "  It  had  been  in 
closed  with  palisades  of  cedar,  and  contained  some  ten  acres  of 
ground.  The  plan  was  a  parallelogram,  divided  by  two  rows 
of  palisades,  running  east  and  west,  and  crossing  in  the  center. 
The  space  between  the  rows  was  about  twelve  feet.  At  the  N. 
W.  corner  was  an  isolated  bastion  and  an  embrasure.  At  the 
period  of  the  first  cultivation  of  the  land,  many  stumps  of  the 
palisades,  which  had  been  burned  off  even  with  the  ground,  were 
ploughed  up.  "Within  the  southern  division  of  the  fort  were 
several  mounds,  the  principal  one  of  which  was  four  feet  high, 


ONONDAGA  COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,  ETC. 


39 


rising  on  a  base  of  about  fifteen  feet  in  diameter,  composed 
chiefly  of  ashes,  in  which  were  found  many  beads  of  the  size  of 
bullets,  and  a  great  variety  of  trinkets  made  of  red  pipe  stone. 
Several  hundred  pounds  of  old  iron,  consisting  of  axes,  gun- 
barrels,  files,  knives,  etc.,  etc.,  were  also  found  in  the  same  place. 
The  smaller  mounds  contained  charred  corn,  many  bushels  of 


FIG.  4,  (See  next  page.) 

which  were  ploughed  up.  At  a  distance  of  about  thirty  rods 
north  of  the  work  was  a  ditch,  nearly  forty  rods  long,  and  va 
rying  from  three  to  six  feet  in  depth.  It  seems  to  have  been 
entirely  disconnected  from  the  work  in  question.  The  situation 
of  this  ancient  fort  is  on  an  elevation  of  land  rising  gradually 
for  about  a  mile  in  every  direction ;  and,  at  the  time  of  its  oc 
cupancy,  several  hundred  acres  of  land  must  have  been  cleared 


40  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

around  it.  Fragments  of  pottery,  pipes,  flint  arrow-heads,  stone 
hatchets,  etc.,  etc.,  are  abundantly  found  on  this  spot.  In  many 
places  both  within  and  exterior  to  the  work,  were  found  pits  for 
hiding  corn  and  other  articles,  en  cache."  Some  small  mounds 
containing  human  bones,  are  found  on  the  lands  of  Mr.  S.  A. 
Keene,  in  this  vicinity. 

A  relic  of  some  interest,  and  which  has  given  rise  to  no  in 
considerable  speculation  is  a  stone  bearing  an  inscription,  found 
in  this  township  in  1820,  by  Mr.  Philo  Cleveland.  It  is  about 
fourteen  inches  long  by  twelve  broad  and  eight  thick,  granitic, 
and  bearing  upon  one  side  a  rude  representation  of  a  tree  en 
twined  by  an  equally  rude  representation  of  a  serpent,  with 
some  letters  and  a  date,  as  shpwn  in  the  cut  inserted  on  the 
preceding  page,  Fig.  4. 

There  seems  to  be  little  doubt  that  the  stone  was  found  as 
represented,  and  that  it  is  a  genuine  remnant  of  antiquity. 
Some  have  supposed  that  it  attests  that  Ponce  de  Leon,  Nar- 
vaez,  or  some  other  Spanish  adventurer,  penetrated  thus  far  to 
the  northward,  during  the  period  of  Spanish  adventure  in  Flor 
ida.  The  stone  is  now  in  the  museum  of  the  Albany  Institute. 

Within  two  miles  of  Jamesville,  in  De  "Witt  township,  upon 
the  banks  of  Butternut  Creek,  there  existed  until  recently  the 
traces  of  an  inclosure  or  fort,  and  in  the  vicinity  many  evidences 
of  comparatively  late  occupation  by  the  Indians.  The  fort  had 
been  rectangular,  with  bastions,  and  constructed  with  cedar 
pickets,  firmly  set  in  the  ground.  The  stumps  of  the  palisades 
were  struck  by  the  plough  when  the  land  was  first  cultivated. 
It  appeared  that  the  cabins  which  it  had  inclosed  had  been 
arranged  with  regularity — a  practice  not  common  among  the 
Indians  before  intercourse  with  the  whites.  In  the  year  1810 
an  oak  was  felled  near  this  fort,  in  cutting  which  a  leaden  bullet 
was  found  imbedded  in  the  wood.  One  hundred  and  forty-three 
cortical  layers  were  counted  above  it.  It  must,  therefore,  have 
been  fired  in  1667.  Fire-arms  were  introduced  among  the 
Iroquois,  by  the  French,  as  early  as  1 609 — the  date  of  Hud- 


ONONDAGA    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC. 


41 


son's  exploration  of  the  river  bearing  his  name.  Brass  cruci 
fixes,  medals  of  silver  and  other  metals,  dial-plates,  and  articles 
of  iron,  are  of  frequent  occurrence  here,  mingled  with  stone  axes, 
and  implements  and  ornaments  of  bone,  shell,  and  clay,  the 
relics  of  an  earlier  period.  Among  other  articles  of  European 
origin,  a  cross  of  pure  gold  was  found  some  years  ago,  bearing 
the  sacred  monogram  I.  H.  S.  Not  far  from  this  spot  are  two 
high  hills  of  great  regularity,  sometimes  called  mounds,  the 
surfaces  of  which  are  covered  with  pits,  which  Mr.  Schoolcraft 
conjectures  were  caches. 

Some  investigators  are  of  opinion  that  Champlain  penetrated 
into  this  country  in  1615.  The  reasons  in  support  of  this 
opinion  are  forcibly  put  forward  by  Mr.  0.  H.  Marshall,  of 
Buffalo,  in  a  paper  published  in  the  Bulletin  of  the  New  York 
Historical  Society,  for  March,  1849.  From  this  paper  the 
subjoined  account  of  the  Indian  fort  attacked  by  Champlain  is 
extracted.  It  throws  light  upon  the  modes  of  defence  common 
to  the  Indians  at  that  period,  besides  being  of  interest  in  several 
other  particulars.  Says  Champlain : 

" '  On  the  10th  of  October,  at  3  P.  M.,  we  arrived  before  the 
fort  of  the  enemy.  Some  skirmishing  ensued  among  the  Indians, 
which  frustrated  our  design  of  not  discovering  ourselves  until 
the  next  morning.  The  impatience  of  our  savages,  and  the 
desire  they  had  of  witnessing  the  effects  of  our  fire-arms  on  the 
enemy,  did  not  suffer  them  to  wait.  When  I  approached  with 
my  little  detachment,  we  showed  them  what  they  had  never 
before  seen  or  heard.  As  soon  as  they  saw  us,  and  heard  the 
balls  whistling  about  their  ears,  they  retired  quietly  into  the 
fort,  carrying  with  them  their  killed  and  wounded.  We  also 
fell  back  upon  the  main  body,  having  five  or  six  wounded,  one  of 
whom  died.' 

"  The  Indians  now  retired  out  of  sight  of  the  fort,  and  refused 
to  listen  to  the  advice  of  Champlain  as  to  the,  best  mode  of  con 
ducting  the  siege.  He  continued  to  aid  them  with  his  men, 
and,  in  imitation  of  the  more  ancient  mode  of  warfare,  planned 


42  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

a  kind  of  movable  tower,  sufficiently  high  when  advanced  to  the 
fort  to  overlook  the  palisades.  It  was  constructed  of  pieces  of 
wood  placed  one  upon  another,  and  was  finished  in  one  night. 

" '  The  village,'  says  Chainplain,  l  was  inclosed  by  four  rows 
of  large  interlaced  palisades,  thirty  feet  high,  near  a  body  of 
unfailing  water.  Along  these  palisades  the  Iroquois  had  placed 
conductors  to  convey  water  to  the  outside,  to  extinguish  fire. 
Galleries  were  constructed  inside  of  the  palisades,  protected  by 
a  ball-proof  parapet  of  wood,  garnished  with  double  pieces  of 
wood. 

" '  When  the  tower  was  finished,  two  hundred  of  the  strongest 
men  advanced  it  near  to  the  palisades.  I  stationed  four  marks 
men  on  its  top,  who  were  well  protected  from  the  stones  and 
arrows  which  were  discharged  by  the  enemy.' 

"  The  French  soon  drove  the  Iroquois  from  the  galleries ;  but 
the  undisciplined  Hurons,  instead  of  setting  fire  to  the  palisades, 
as  directed  by  Champlain,  consumed  the  time  in  shouting  at 
the  enemy,  and  discharging  harmless  showers  of  arrows  into  the 
fort.  Without  discipline,  and  impatient  of  restraint,  each  one 
acted  as  his  fancy  pleased  him.  They  placed  the  fire  on  the 
wrong  side  of  the  fort,  so  that  it  had  no  effect. 

"'When  the  fire  had  gone  out,  they  began  to  pile  wood 
against  the  palisades,  but  in  such  small  quantities  that  it  made 
no  impression.  The  confusion  was  so  great  that  nothing  could 
be  heard.  I  called  out  to  them,  and  pointed  out,  as  well  as  I 
could,  the  danger  they  incurred  by  their  imprudent  manage 
ment  ;  but  they  heard  nothing  by  reason  of  the  great  noise 
which  they  made.  Perceiving  that  I  should  break  my  head 
in  calling,  that  my  remonstrances  were  in  vain,  and  that  there 
were  no  means  of  remedying  the  disorder,  I  resolved  to  effect, 
with  my  own  people,  what  could  be  done,  and  to  fire  upon  those 
we  could  discover. 

" '  In  the  mean  time,  the  enemy  profited  by  our  disorder. 
They  brought  and  threw  water  in  such  abundance,  that  it 
poured  in  streams  from  the  conductors,  and  extinguished  the 


ONONDAGA    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  43 

fire  in  a  very  short  time.  They  continued,  without  cessation, 
to  discharge  nights  of  arrows,  which  fell  on  us  like  hail.  Those 
who  were  on  the  tower  killed  and  wounded  a  great  number. 

'"The  battle  lasted  about  three  hours.  Two  of  our  chiefs, 
some  head-men,  and  about  fifteen  others  were  wounded.' " 

Mr.  Marshall  is  of  the  opinion  that  this  fort  was  situated 
upon  the  shores  of  Onondaga  Lake.  He  arrives  at  this  con 
clusion  from  an  analysis  of  the  courses  and  distances  traveled 
by  Champlain,  the  streams  which  he  crossed,  etc.,  and  continues: 

"  Another  circumstance  to  aid  us  in  the  location,  is  the  de 
scription  given  by  Champlain  of  the  fort  itself.  '  It  was  situated,' 
says  he, '  on  the  borders  of  an  unfailing  body  of  water.'  This 
he  calls  '  Etang]  a  word  generally  applied  to  an  artificial  pond, 
but  sometimes  used  for  a  small  lake  or  other  natural  collection 
of  water.  There  is  nothing  that  will  answer  the  terms  of  the 
description  in  so  many  particulars,  as  the  shore  of  Onondaga 
Lake  ;  and  it  is  quite  probable  that  it  is  there  we  must  look 
for  the  location  of  the  fort  which  was  invested  by  the  invaders. 

"  Three  miles  southeast  of  its  outlet,  on  the  northern  bank 
of  the  lake,  and  near  the  present  village  of  Liverpool,  an  an 
cient  Indian  work  was  discovered  by  the  early  settlers,  which 
may  have  been  the  site  of  the  fortification  in  question.  There 
is  reason  to  believe  that  the  same  locality  was  occupied  by 
Monsieur  Dupuis  and  the  Jesuits,  when  they  established  them 
selves  among  the  Onondagas  in  1656. 

"  Mr.  Clark,  of  Manlius,  thinks  that  the  Count  de  Frontenac 
occupied  this  position  when  he  invaded  the  Onondaga  country, 
in  1696,  and  that  Col.  Van  Schaick  encamped  there  while  on 
his  expedition  against  the  Onondagas,  in  1779." 

In  the  account  of  Frontenac's  Expedition,  contained  in  Yol. 
V.  of  the  Paris  Documents,  now  deposited  in  the  office  of  the 
Secretary  of  State  of  New  York,  it  is  stated  that  the  principal 
fort  of  the  Onondagas  was  burned  by  the  Indians  upon  the 
approach  of  the  French  army.  The  terms  of  the  account  are 
as  follows : — "  The  cabins  of  the  Indians  and  the  triple  pali- 


44 


ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 


sade  which  encircled  their  fort  were  found  entirely  burnt.  It 
was  an  oblong  flanked  by  four  regular  bastions.  The  two  rows 
of  pickets,  which  touched  each  other,  were  of  the  thickness  of 
an  ordinary  mast ;  and  at  six  feet  distance  outside  stood  an 
other  palisade  of  much  smaller  dimensions,  but  from  forty  to 
fifty  feet  high."  This  account  also  states  that  the  invaders 
were  successful  in  discovering  almost  all  of  the  caches  in  which 
the  Indians  had  deposited  their  corn.* 

In  his  recently  published  work,  Mr.  Clark  presents  a  plan 
of  a  stockade  work,  surveyed  by  Judge  Geddes,  and  probably 
the  very  one  referred  to  by  Mr.  Marshall. 


/ss 


4fc 


^«^s 


FIG  5. 


It  is  situated  on  the  shores  of  Onondaga  Lake,  between 
Brown's  pump-works  and  Liverpool.  A  fine  spring  of  water 
rises  near  it,  and  quantities  of  relics,  of  various  kinds,  have 
been  found  within  it. 


*  Documentary  History  of  New  York,  Vol.  I.,  p.  332. 


MADISON    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC. 


45 


MADISON    COUNTY. 

ON  the  site  of  the  village  of  Cazenovia,  situated  in  the  town 
ship  of  the  same  name,  which  adjoins  Pompey,  Onondaga 
county,  on  the  east,  it  is  said  an  ancient  earth-work  once  exist 
ed.  No  vestige  of  it  now  remains.  By  some  it  was  represent 
ed  to  be  circular,  by  others  rectangular.  Many  rude  relics 
have  been  found  here. 

There  are  yet  traces  of  an  old  palisaded  work  in  the  town 
ship  of  Cazenovia,  about  two  miles  north  of  Delphi,  of  which 
Mr.  Clark,  in  his  "  History  of  Onondaga  county,"  gives  the  fol 
lowing  plan. 

It  will  be  observed  that 
it  essentially  corresponds 
with  those  in  Onondaga 
county,  already  described. 
It  has  an  area  of  about  five 
acres,  and  numerous  graves 
of  the  Indians  are  to  be 
found  both  within  and  with 
out  the  walls,  in  the  vi 
cinity. 

FIG.  6. 

In  the  town  of  Lenox  there  were  still  visible,  in  1812,  the 
traces  of  a  work  of  more  modern  date.  It  occupied  a  position 
corresponding  with  most  of  the  defensive  structures  of  the 
aborigines,  at  the  junction  of  two  deep  ravines,  the  precipitous 
banks  of  which  not  only  afforded  protection,  but  precluded  the 
necessity,  in  great  part,  of  artificial  defences.  Within  the 
point  thus  cut  off  and  defended,  there  is  a  small  eminence,  in 
which  there  are  a  number  of  excavations,  containing  traces  of 
decayed  wood. 

It  may  be  suggested  (though,  not  knowing  their  dimensions, 
the  suggestion  may  be  absurd)  that  the  pits  were  originally  de- 


46  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

signed  for  caches.  Mr.  Schoolcraft  supposes  that  this  work  was 
erected  by  the  French — -a  supposition  which  finds  support  in 
the  regular  form  of  the  palisaded  outlines,  and  the  circumstance 
that  the  ground  within  and  around  the  work  has  not  yet  re 
turned  to  a  forest  state. 


OTSEGO    COUNTY. 

IT  is  stated,  upon  very  good  authority,  that  an  ancient  cir 
cular  earth-work  once  existed  near  Unadilla,  in  this  county. 
Nothing  is  known  concerning  it,  further  than  that  it  was  situ 
ated  on  low  ground. 


CHENANGO    COUNTY. 

THERE  was  formerly  an  ancient  inclosure,  of  small  size, 
within  the  limits  of  the  village  of  Oxford,  in  the  township  of 
that  name,  on  the  banks  of  the  Chenango  River.  It  is  de 
scribed  by  Clinton  as  occupying  a  small  eminence,  three  or 
four  acres  in  extent,  which  rises  abruptly  from  the  flats  bor 
dering  the  river.  At  the  base  of  this  eminence,  upon  the  west 
ern  side,  flows  the  stream,  and  here  the  descent  is  precipitous. 
A  line  of  embankment  and  a  trench  extended  in  a  semicircu 
lar  form  from  this  bank,  leaving  narrow  interruptions  at  the 
ends,,  for  ingress  and  egress.  The  area  thus  inclosed  was  about 
three  fourths  of  an  acre.  At  the  period  of  the  first  settlement, 
it  was  covered  with  a  dense  forest ;  yet,  says  Mr.  Clinton.  "  the 
outline  of  the  work  could  be  distinctly  traced  among  the  trees, 
and  the  elevation  from  the  bottom  of  the  trench  to  the  top  of 
the  embankment  was  about  four  feet.  The  stump  of  a  decayed 


CHENANGO  COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,  ETC.       47 

pine  which  stood  upon  the  wall  exhibited  one  hundred  and 
ninety-five  cortical  layers,  and  there  were  many  more  which 
could  not  be  counted,  as  the  heart  of  the  tree  alone  remained. 
Probably  the  tree  was  three  or  four  hundred  years  old — cer 
tainly  more  than  two  hundred.  It  probably  stood  many  years 
after  it  had  completed  its  growth,  and  it  is  reasonable  to  sup 
pose  that  some  time  elapsed  from  the  period  of  the  construc 
tion  of  the  work  to  the  commencement  of  the  growth  of  the  tree. 

"  Probably  the  work  was  encircled  with  palisades,  but  no 
traces  of  the  wood  were  discoverable.  The  situation  was  very 
eligible,  elevated,  commanding  a  fine  prospect,  and  having  no 
eminence  near  from  which  it  could  be  commanded.  No  im 
plements  or  utensils  have  been  found,  except  some  fragments 
of  coarse  pottery,  roughly  ornamented.  The  Indians  have  a 
tradition  that  the  family  of  the  Antones,  which  is  supposed  to 
belong  to  the  Tuscarora  nation,  is  the  seventh  generation  from 
the  inhabitants  of  this  fort ;  but  of  its  origin  they  know  nothing. 

"  There  is  also  a  place  at  Norwich  in  this  county,  on  a  high 
bank  of  the  river,  called  '  the  Castle,'  where  the  Indians  lived 
at  the  period  of  our  settlement  of  the  country,  and  where  some 
vestiges  of  a  fortification  appear,  but  in  all  probability  of  much 
more  modern  date  than  those  at  Oxford." 

In  Greene  township,  about  two  miles  below  the  village,  was 
formerly  a  mound  of  some  interest.  It  was  situated  about 
thirty  rods  back  from  the  bank  of  the  Chenango  River,  and 
was  originally  about  six  feet  in  height  and  forty  in  diameter. 
"  Until  within  a  few  years  a  large  pine  stump  stood  on  its  top, 
and  a  variety  of  trees  covered  it  when  first  discovered. 
One  of  these  showed  two  hundred  consecutive  growths.  An 
examination  of  the  mound  was  made  in  1829  by  excavation. 
Great  numbers  of  human  bones  were  found  ;  and  beneath  them, 
at  a  greater  depth,  others  were  found  which  had  evidently  been 
burned.  No  conjecture  could  be  formed  of  the  number  of  bo 
dies  deposited  here.  The  skeletons  were  found  lying  without 
order,  and  so  much  decayed  as  to  crumble  on  exposure.  At 


48  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

one  point  in  the  mound  a  large  number,  perhaps  two  hundred, 
arrow-heads  were  discovered,  collected  in  a  heap.  They  were 
of  the  usual  form,  and  of  yellow  or  black  flint.  Another  pile, 
of  sixty  or  more,  was  found  in  another  place,  in  the  same 
mound  ;  also  a  silver  band  or  ring,  about  two  inches  in  diame 
ter,  wide  but  thin,  and  with  what  appeared  to  be  the  remains 
of  a  reed  pipe  within  it.  A  number  of  stone  gouges  or  chisels, 
of  different  shapes,  and  a  piece  of  mica,  cut  in  the  form  of  a 
heart,  the  border  much  decayed  and  the  laminae  separated,  were 
also  discovered."* 

It  may  be  mentioned  here,  that  the  character  of  the  lower 
deposit,  and  also  some  of  the  relics,  coincide  with  some  of  those 
found  in  the  mounds  of  the  Mississippi  Valley.  The  ancient 
mound-builders  often  burned  their  dead.  The  upper  and 
principal  collection  of  bones  had  probably  a  comparatively  late 
date,  as  is  shown  by  the  silver  bracelet,  which,  it  is  presumed, 
although  not  so  expressly  stated,  was  found  with  this  deposit. 


CAYUGA    COUNTY. 

PLATE  V.     No.  1. 

Ancient  Work  near  Auburn,  New  York. 

ONE  of  the  best  preserved  and  most  interesting  works  in  the 
State,  is  that  overlooking  the  flourishing  town  of  Auburn.  It 
is  situated  upon  a  commanding  eminence,  which  rises  abruptly 
from  the  level  grounds  upon  which  the  town  is  built,  to  the 
height  of  perhaps  one  hundred  feet.  It  is  the  most  elevated 
spot  in  the  vicinity,  and  commands  a  wide  and  very  beautiful 
prospect.  The  ground  occupied  by  the  work  subsides  gently 
from  the  centre  of  the  area ;  but  exterior  to  the  walls  are  steep 

*  Annals  of  Binghampton. 


A 'I/BURN,  CAYUGA  C? MY. 

s  as.  fa<*s. 


MEMTZ    TP.  C/4YUGA  C?MY. 


CAYUGA  COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,  ETC.        49 

acclivities  and  deep  ravines,  rendering  approach  in  nearly  every 
direction  extremely  difficult.  These  natural  features  are  indi 
cated  in  the  plan,  which  obviates  the  necessity  for  a  detailed 
description.  Upon  the  south  are  several  deep  gulleys,  separated 
by  sharp,  narrow  ridges,  rendering  ascent  at  this  point,  in  the 
face  of  determined  defenders,  entirely  impracticable.  It  has 
been  conjectured  by  some  that  the  walls  here  have  been  washed 
away  ;  but  it  is  clear  that  there  was  slight  necessity  for  any 
defences  at  this  point,  and  that  none  ever  existed  beyond  what 
may  still  be  traced. 

The  number  and  relative  proportions  of  the  gateways  or 
openings  are  correctly  shown  in  the  plan.  That  upon  the  north 
is  one  hundred  and  sixty  feet  wide ;  that  upon  the  east  sixty 
feet,  and  that  upon  the  west  thirty  feet.  These  wide,  unpro 
tected  spaces  would  seem  to  conflict  with  the  supposition,  so 
well  sustained  by  its  remaining  features,  that  the  work  had  a 
defensive  origin.  It  is  not  improbable,  however,  that  palisades 
extended  across  these  openings,  as  well  as  crowned  the  embank 
ments  ;  for  without  such  additions,  as  has  been  already  observed, 
the  best  of  these  structures  could  have  afforded  but  very  slight 
protection. 

The  embankments  of  this  work  are  now  between  two  and  three 
feet  in  height,  and  the  trenches  of  corresponding  depth.  The 
area  of  the  work  and  the  ground  around  it  are  covered  with 
forest  trees.  There  are  several  depressions,  which,  probably, 
were  the  caches  of  the  ancient  occupants.* 

It  is  said  that  a  number  of  relics  have  been  recovered  here 
from  time  to  time,  and  among  others  the  head  of  a  banner-staff 
of  thin  iron,  fourteen  inches  long  and  ten  broad.  It  is,  of  course, 
of  French  or  English  origin,  and  was  probably  lost  or  buried 
here  by  the  Indians,  into  whose  hands,  by  purchase  or  capture, 


*  This  work  has  an  accidental  approach  to  regularity ;  but  it  is  far 
from  being  a  true  ellipsis,  as  has  been  supposed  by  some  who  have  vis 
ited  it. 

3 


50  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

it  had  fallen.  We  may  perhaps  refer  it  back  to  the  days  of 
Champlain  and  Frontenac,  when  the  armies  of  France  swept 
the  shores  of  the  western  lakes,  in  the  vain  hope  of  laying  the 
foundation  of  a  Gallic  empire  in  America.  This  relic  is  now 
in  the  possession  of  Mr.  J.  W.  Chedell,  of  Auburn. 

McCauley,  in  his  History  of  New  York,  presents  the  sub 
joined  facts  bearing  upon  the  question  of  the  probable  antiquity 
of  this  work,  which  may  not  be  without  their  interest.  He  says : 
"  We  examined  the  stump  of  a  chestnut  tree  in  the  moat,  which 
was  three  feet  two  inches  in  diameter,  at  a  point  two  feet  and 
a  half  above  the  surface  of  the  earth.  A  part  of  the  trunk  of 
the  same  tree  was  lying  by  the  stump.  As  this  tree  had  been 
cut  down,  we  endeavored  to  ascertain  its  age ;  and  for  this 
purpose  we  counted  the  rings  or  concentric  circles,  and  found 
them  to  amount  to  two  hundred  and  thirty-five.  The  centre 
of  the  tree  was  hollow,  or  rather  decayed  ;  and  estimating  this 
part  as  equal  to  thirty  more  layers  or  growths,  we  calculated 
the  entire  age  of  the  tree  to  be  two  hundred  and  fifty-five 
years.  About  five  years  had'  elapsed  since  the  tree  was  cut 
down.  This  was  in  1825,  and  would  carry  back  the  date  of 
the  work  to  1555. 

"  At  the  distance  of  three  paces  from  this  stump  was  another 
of  chestnut,  standing  in  the  ditch.  It  exceeded  three  feet  in 
diameter,  and  the  tree  must  have  died  standing,  and  probably 
remained  in  that  position  many  years  before  it  fell,  from  decay. 
In  our  opinion,  the  tree  dated  back  as  far  as  the  discovery  of 
the  continent.  Besides,  it  may  be  conjectured,  for  aught  we 
know  to  the  contrary,  that  several  growths  of  forest  intervened 
between  the  abandonment  of  this  work  and  the  date  of  the 
present  forest."* 

About  two  miles  northeast  of  the  work  above  described,  upon 
elevated  ground,  was  another  similar  work.  It  is  now  entirely 
leveled,  and  its  site  can  only  be  ascertained  by  the  fragments 

*  History  of  New  York,  Vol.  I.,  p.  112. 


CAYUGA    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  51 

of  pottery  which  are  scattered  over  the  ground.     It  was  visible 
in  1825,  when  it  was  visited  by  McCauley,  who  says: 

"  It  inclosed  about  two  acres,  and  had  a  rampart,  ditch, 
and  gateway.  It  is  now  nearly  obliterated  by  the  plough.  In 
its  original  state,  or  the  condition  it  was  in  thirty-five  years 
ago,  about  the  time  the  land  was  cleared,  the  rampart  was  sev 
en  feet  high,  and  the  ditch  ten  feet  wide  and  three  deep.  Two 
persons,  the  one  standing  in  the  ditch,  and  the  other  within 
the  inclosure,  were  unable  to  see  each  other.  The  gateway 
was  on  the  northeastern  side,  in  the  direction  of  a  spring  which 
flowed  close  by.  The  work  was  three  hundred  and  fifty  paces 
in  circumference." 


PLATE  V.     No.  2. 

Ancient  Work,  Mentz  Township,  Cayuga  County^  New  York. 

Six  miles  northwest  of  Auburn,  and  three  miles  from  Troops- 
ville,  in  the  township  of  Mentz,  is  the  small  but  well  preserved 
work  of  which  a  plan  is  here  given.  The  country  around  is 
hilly,  and  the  work  itself  is  built  upon  the  crest  of  a  narrow 
ridge,  which  extends  nearly  north  and  south,  and  along  which 
the  main  road  passes.  There  is  a  hollow,  with  springs  flowing 
into  it.  toward  the  left ;  in  which  direction,  it  will  be  observed, 
a  gateway  opens.  Although  the  ground  has  been  for  many 
years  under  cultivation,  the  lines  of  embankment  are  still  be 
tween  two  and  three  feet  high.  A  quantity  of  relics,  some  of 
comparatively  late  date,  have  been  found  here.  Some  skele 
tons,  also,  have  been  disclosed  by  the  plough,  both  within  and 
without  the  walls.  The  plan  obviates  the  necessity  for  any 
further  description. 

The  existence  of  this  work  does  not  seem  to  have  been  hith 
erto  known,  beyond  the  secluded  vicinity  in  which  it  occurs. 
It  is,  however,  probable  that  it  is  the  one  alluded  to  by  McCau- 


52 


ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 


ley  in  the  following  very  indefinite  terms :  "  On  the  east  side 
of  the  Seneca  River,  near  Montezuma,  there  are  still  to  be  seen 
the  ruins  of  a  small  fort.  A  small  mound  occurs  not  far  from 
the  fort  j  it  is  artificial."  Montezuma  is  situated  in  the  same 
township  with  the  work  above  described,  and  about  four  miles 
distant,  in  a  northwestern  direction.  In  the  "  New  York  Mag 
azine,"  for  1792,  mention  is  made  of  a  couple  of  ancient  works, 
said  to  occur  south  of  Cross  and  Salt  Lakes,  east  of  the  Seneca 
River,  and  falling  probably  within  the  limits  of  the  present 
township  of  Brutus  in  Cayuga.  or  Elbridge  in  Onondaga  county. 
One  of  these  was  in  the  "  form  of  a  parallelogram,  two  hundred 
and  twenty  yards  long  and  fifty-five  broad,  with  openings  on 
either  side,  one  of  which  led  to  the  waters.  Half  a  mile  south 
was  another  work  of  crescent  form;  large  trees  were  growing 
upon  both."  Quantities  of  well-burned  pottery  in  fragments 
were  found  there ;  also  a  slab  of  stone  five  feet  long,  three  and 
a  half  broad,  and  six  inches  thick,  upon  which  were  some  rude 
tracings,  specimens  perhaps  of  the  "picture  writing"  of  the 
Indians. 

McCauley  mentions  an  ancient  work  near  the  town  of  Aurora, 
in  the  southern  part  of  this  county,  and  near  Cayuga  Lake. 
According  to  this  authority,  it  was  situated  "  two  miles  from 
the  village,  in  a  southwesterly  direction ;  the  area  triangular, 
and  containing  two  acres.  Two  of  its  sides  were  defended  by 
precipitous  banks,  and  the  third  by  an  embankment  and  ditch. 
Fragments  of  earthen  vessels  and  the  bones  of  animals  had  been 
found  there  enveloped  in  beds  of  ashes." 

There  are  traces  of  an  ancient  palisaded  work  of  the  Cayugas, 
in  Ledyard  township,  about  four  miles  southeast  of  Springport. 
In  fact,  the  whole  country  has  numerous  vestiges,  cemeteries, 
etc.,  of  its  aboriginal  possessors. 


VI. 


XT?  1 


AKKEDHKIT 

/VfAR  ELM  IRA,  CHEMUNG  CoAf.Y. 


£  H    If  or  s  ford,    ale  I, 


/  M/LC  f  Of  CAMANOA/GVA 
ONTAA/O  COl/#rY,/KY. 


SCALE 
2OOft  to  the  Inch 


CHEMUNG    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  53 


CHEMUNG  COUNTY. 

THERE  is  a  work  in  this  county  which  possesses  peculiar  in 
terest,  from  the  circumstance  that  the  embankments  still  retain 
unmistakable  traces  of  the  palisades  with  which  it  was  crowned, 
thus  demonstrating  the  correctness  of  the  conjectures  already 
indulged  in,  as  to  the  probable  construction  of  the  entire  system 
of  earth-works  of  Western  New  York.  The  accompanying  plan 
and  description  are  from  the  note-books  of  Prof.  E.  N.  Hors- 
ford,  of  Harvard  University,  who  visited  this  work  in  company 
with  other  gentlemen  connected  with  the  State  Geological  Sur 
vey,  at  the  time  that  enterprise  was  in  progress. 


PLATE  VI.     No.  1. 

Ancient  Work  near  Elmira,  Chemung  County,  New  York. 

"  THIS  work  is  situated  about  two  and  a  half  miles  west  of 
Elmira,  upon  the  summit  of  an  eminence,  the  base  of  which, 
upon  one  side,  is  washed  by  Chemung  River,  and  upon  the 
other  by  the  waters  of  a  deep  and  almost  impassable  ravine. 
It  is,  in  fact,  a  bold  headland.  The  approach  is  by  a  narrow 
path,  which  in  some  places  will  admit  of  the  passage  of  a  single 
person  only,  and  which  traverses  the  very  abrupt  crown  of  the 
ridge.  Toward  the  top,  the  ascent  is  more  gradual,  and  the 
ground  continues  to  ascend  slightly  until  we  reach  the  defences. 
The  site  chosen  exhibits  the  strongest  proof  of  design,  being 
such  as  to  command  a  most  extensive  view  along  the  course 
of  the  river,  and  being,  except  from  behind,  accessible  only  by 
the  difficult  pathway  already  mentioned. 

(i  The  artificial  defences  consist  of  an  embankment,  with  an 
outer  ditch,  which  extends,  as  shown  in  the  plan,  from  the  steep 


54  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

bank  toward  the  river,  to  the  brow  of  the  ravine  upon  the 
other  side.  This  embankment  is  about  two  hundred  feet  long, 
fourteen  feet  broad  at  the  base,  and  about  three  and  a  half  feet 
high.  The  rotting  stump  of  an  old  pine  tree,  three  feet  in  di 
ameter,  and  a  yellow  pine  tree,  nine  feet  in  circumference,  are 
standing  upon  the  wall,  and  indicate  its  high  antiquity. 

u  What  appeared  to  be  a  furrow  was  observed  extending 
along  the  summit  of  the  embankment  throughout  its  entire 
length.  Upon  examination,  it  was  found  that  this  appearance 
was  produced  by  a  succession  of  holes,  about  a  foot  in  depth. 
Just  within  this  chain  of  holes  is  another  parallel  chain,  not 
quite  so  distinct  as  the  first.  Still  further  inward,  and  extend 
ing  but  part  of  the  way  across  the  area  of  the  work,  are  several 
parallel  furrows,  without  accompanying  ridges,  the  design  of 
which  is  hardly  apparent. 

It  will  be  seen  that  this  work  corresponds  entirely  in  position 
with  most  of  the  earth-works  of  the  State,  was  chosen  with  ref 
erence  to  the  same  principles,  and  was  defended  in  precisely 
the  same  manner.  It  is  peculiar  in  still  retaining  the  holes 
left  by  the  decay  of  the  palisades,  which  show  that  it  was 
strengthened  by  a  double  line.  It  is  rational  to  conclude,  upon 
general  principles,  that  all  the  works  of  the  State  were  protected 
in  like  manner ;  although,  except  in  this  instance,  all  traces  of 
the  wooden  superstructure  have  disappeared.  As  already  ob 
served,  this  work,  for  the  positive  light  which  it  throws  upon 
the  original  character  of  these  ancient  defences,  is  probably  the 
most  interesting  one  in  the  State. 


ONTARIO    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  OD 

ONTARIO     COUNTY. 

PLATE  VI.     No.  2. 

Ancient  Work  near  Canandaigua. 

ONE  mile  east  of  the  town  of  Canandaigua,  upon  the  slope  of 
a  hill  overlooking  Canandaigua  Lake,  is  the  work  here  figured. 
It  is  unsurpassed  for  the  beauty  of  its  position.  A  considerable 
portion  of  the  embankment  has  been  obliterated  by  cultivation, 
and  another  portion  by  the  turnpike  road,  from  Canandaigua 
to  Geneva,  which  passes  through  it.  The  parts  which  may  yet 
be  traced  are  appropriately  indicated  in  the  plan,  and  enable 
us  to  make  out  the  original  form  of  the  work  with  sufficient  ex 
actness.  In  constructing  the  road,  human  bones  in  considerable 
quantities  were  disclosed  on  the  brow  of  the  hill,  accompanied 
by  the  usual  rude  relics  of  Indian  art.  It  is  mentioned  by 
Mr.  Schoolcraft,  that  the  Senecas  deduce  their  descent  from 
the  remarkable  eminence  upon  which  this  work  is  situated.* 

Between  three  and  four  miles  west  of  Canandaigua,  on  the 
road  to  Victor,  there  is  a  long,  narrow  trench  running  nearly 
in  a  direction  from  N.  E.  to  S.  W.  It  may  be  traced,  with 
occasional  interruptions,  for  some  miles,  and  has  been  errone 
ously,  but  very  generally,  believed  to  be  a  work  of  art.  It 
marks  the  line  of  a  long,  narrow  fissure  in  the  limestone  sub 
stratum,  into  which  the  earth  has  subsided.  The  water  which 
accumulates  in  it  sinks,  to  swell  the  volume  of  so*me  subterra 
neous  stream.  The  cause  of  this  singular  fissure  is  worthy  of 
the  inquiries  of  geologists. 

Judge  Porter,  of  Niagara,  mentions  another  ancient  inclosure, 
similar  to  that  above  described,  in  the  vicinity  of  Canandaigua; 
but  its  locality  could  not  be  ascertained.  It  is  probably  now 
completely  destroyed. 

*  Notes  on  the  Iroquois,  p.  196. 


56  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

PLATE   VII.     No.  1. 

Ancient  Work  near  the  City  of  Geneva. 

ONE  and  a  half  miles  west  of  Geneva  are  the  traces  of  the  old 
Indian  "  Castle  "  of  Ganundesdga,  built  by  the  Senecas,  and 
destroyed  by  Sullivan  in  1779.  Near  it  is  a  mound  thickly 
covered  over  with  graves.  A  plan  and  description  of  this  work 
will  be  given  in  another  connection.  About  two  miles  beyond, 
in  the  same  direction,  in  Seneca  township,  is  another  work  of 
more  ancient  date,  a  plan  of  which  is  here  presented.  It  is 
situated  upon  elevated  grounds,  and  coincides  generally  with 
those  already  described.  The  position,  upon  the  east  side,  is 
protected  by  a  steep,  natural  bank,  perhaps  sixty  feet  in  height, 
which  subsides  into  low,  marshy  grounds.  At  the  foot  of  the 
bank  is  a  copious  and  perennial  spring.  Upon  the  west,  south, 
and  north,  the  ground  falls  off  gently ;  and  here  we  find  the 
artificial  defences.  Although  the  whole  has  been  for  some  time 
under  cultivation,  the  lines  of  entrenchment  may  be  followed 
throughout  nearly  their  entire  extent,  without  difficulty.  The 
usual  evidences  of  ancient  occupancy  are  found  within  the  area. 

Half  a  mile  further  to  the  westward,  upon  a  corresponding 
site,  are  the  traces  of  an  ancient  palisaded  work,  which  will  be 
described  in  its  appropriate  place. 


MONROE  COUNTY. 

A  NUMBER  of  aboriginal  monuments  formerly  existed  in  this 
county ;  but,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  small  mounds,  they 
have  been  wholly  obliterated,  or  so  much  defaced  that  they  can 
no  longer  be  made  out.  Two  mounds  occupy  the  high,  sandy 
grounds  to  the  westward  of  Irondequoit  Bay,  where  it  con- 


PLATE,    VI I. 


?  i 


SCAL£ . 


(3V3  Hf.  JV.  w:  Of  Geneva-.^ 
ONTARIO  C?  MY. 


•  SAHONY   *  IHAJOH  .  H. 


MONROE    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  57 

nects  with  Lake  Ontario.  The  point  is  a  remarkable  one. 
The  position  of  the  mounds  in  respect  to  the  natural  features 
around  them  is  indicated  in  the  accompanying  sketch,  Plate 
VIL,  No.  2. 

They  are  small,  the  largest  not  exceeding  five  feet  in  height. 
It  was  found,  upon  excavation,  that  they  had  been  previously  dis 
turbed  ;  and  their  examination  proved  fruitless.  Some  bits  of 
charcoal  and  a  few  small  fragments  of  bones  were  observed 
mingled  with  the  sand.  At  various  places,  upon  the  eleva 
tions  around  them,  were  scattered  fragments  of  pottery,  and 
arrow-heads  and  other  rude  relics  are  also  of  frequent  occur 
rence  here. 

The  spot  was  evidently  a  favorite  one  with  the  Indians,  the 
vicinity  abounding  in  fish  and  game. 

The  waves  of  the  lake  have  thrown  up  a  narrow  bar  or  bank 
of  sand,  called  the  "  Spit"  which  extends  nearly  across  the 
mouth  of  the  bay,  leaving  but  a  small  opening.  Upon  this  bar 
a  few  scattered  trees  are  standing,  and  it  was  here  that  the 
Marquis  De  Nonville  landed  with  his  troops,  at  the  time  of  his 
expedition  against  the  Senecas,  in  1687.  He  constructed  a 
stockade  at  or  near  this  point. 

Upon  the  eastern  shore  of  the  bay,  and  occupying  a  position 
corresponding  with  that  of  the  mounds  already  described,  it  is 
said  there  is  another  mound  of  considerable  size.  It  was  opened 
many  years  ago,  and  was  found  to  contain  human  bones. 

Some  eight  or  ten  miles  to  the  southeast,  and  half  a  mile 
east  of  the  village  of  Penfield,  on  the  banks  of  Irondequoit 
Creek,  is  still  another  mound,  situated  upon  a  headland,  which 
now  projects  into  an  artificial  pond.  It  must  have  been  origi 
nally  eight  or  nine  feet  in  height,  by  perhaps  forty  feet  base. 
It  is  a  favorite  haunt  of  "  money-diggers,"  by  whom  it  has  been 
pretty  thoroughly  excavated.  A  shaft  had  been  sunk  in  it  but 
a  short  time  before  it  was  visited  by  the  author ;  and  at  that 
period  many  fragments  of  human  bones,  much  decayed,  which 
had  been  thrown  up  from  near  the  base,  were  bleaching  upon  the 
3* 


DO  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

surface.  The  soil  is  here  light  and  sandy,  and  a  depression  is 
still  visible  near  by,  marking  the  spot  whence  the  material  com 
posing  the  mound  was  procured.  It  could  not  be  ascertained 
that  any  relics  of  art  were  obtained  here.  See  Plate  VII. , 
Fig.  3. 

As  already  observed,  most,  if  not  all,  of  the  ancient  works 
which  existed  in  this  county  are  now  obliterated.  We  can 
consequently  do  but  little  more  than  indicate  the  sites  which 
they  occupied  according  to  the  best  information  obtained  from 
the  early  settlers.  It  is  asserted  that  an  inclosure  of  con 
siderable  size  exists  in  the  town  of  Irondequoit,  west  of  Iron- 
dequoit  Bay,  and  near  the  Genesee  River,  about  five  miles 
north  of  Rochester.  A  day  was  spent  in  search  of  it,  but  with 
out  success.  Its  discovery  may  reward  the  perseverance  of 
some  future  explorer.* 

A  fine  work  once  occupied  a  commanding  site  at  the  point 
known  as  "  Handford's  Landing,"  three  miles  north  of  Roches 
ter.  It  consisted  of  a  semicircular  embankment,  the  ends  of 
which  extended  to  the  very  edge  of  the  immense  ravine  which 
shuts  in  the  Genesee  River  below  the  falls  at  Rochester.  It 
had  three  narrow  gateways  placed  at  irregular  intervals. 

There  is  a  locality  in  the  town  of  Parma,  about  seven  miles 
west  of  Rochester,  where  the  earth  has  subsided  into  the  fis 
sures  of  the  sand  rock,  forming  what  has  generally  been  sup 
posed  to  be  a  line  of  entrenchments.  From  some  distance  the 
apparent  ditch  has  all  the  regularity  of  a  work  of  art ;  but  still 
it  is  hard  to  understand  how  it  came  to  be  regarded  as  an 
"  Indian  Fort,"  by  which  name  it  is  currently  known  in  the 
neighborhood.  It  would  seem  incredible  that  errors  of  this 
kind  should  become  general,  had  not  a  large  experience  shown 
that  upon  no  class  of  subjects  do  the  mass  of  men  exercise  so  lit- 


*  McCauley  states  that  there  is  an  ancient  work  on  Irondequoit  Bay, 
in  Penfield  township,  on  the  north  side  of  the  "  ridge."  No  informa 
tion  could  be  obtained  concerning  it. 


MONROE    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  59 

tie  sound  judgment,  as  upon  those  which  relate  to  the  history 
and  monuments  of  the  past. 

In  the  town  of  Ogden,  which  adjoins  Parma  on  the  south, 
it  is  reputed  that  some  ancient  works  are  to  be  found ;  but 
from  the  best  information  which  could  be  obtained,  it  seems 
probable  that  the  report  has  no  better  foundation  than  hun 
dreds  of  similar  ones,  subsequently  found  to  be  erroneous,  and 
originated,  it  is  very  likely,  in  the  discovery  of  an  Indian  cem 
etery,  or  of  the  traces  of  an  Indian  village. 

Ascending  the  valley  of  the  Genesee  for  twenty  miles,  we 
come  to  a  section  of  country  which  is  very  rich  in  evidences  of 
aboriginal  occupancy,  but  chiefly  such  as  may  be  referred  to  a 
comparatively  late  date.  In  the  town  of  Wheatland,  and  a 
short  distance  to  the  westward  of  the  village  of  Scottsville, 
there  formerly  existed  two  very  interesting  earth-works. 
There  is  scarcely  a  trace  of  them  now  to  be  seen.  They 
were  visited  by  Kirkland  in  1788.  He  found  the  first 
work  "  about  two  miles  west  of  Allen's  residence,  which  was 
an  extensive  flat,  at  a  deserted  Indian  village  near  the  junction 
of  a  creek  (Allen's  Creek)  with  the  Genesee,  eight  miles  north 
of  the  old  Indian  village  of  Kanawageas,  and  five  miles  north 
of  the  Magic  Spring  (Caledonia  Springs),  so  called  by  the 
Indians,  who  believed  its  waters  had  the  power  of  petrifying 
all  things  subjected  to  its  influence.  This  work  inclosed  about 
six  acres,  and  had  six  gates.  The  ditch  was  about  eight  feet 
wide,  and  in  some  places  six  feet  deep,  and  drawn  in  a  circular 
form  on  three  sides.  The  fourth  side  was  defended  by  nature 
with  a  high  bank,  at  the  foot  of  which  was  a  fine  stream  of 
water.  The  bank  had  probably  been  secured  by  a  stockade, 
as  there  appeared  to  have  been  a  deep  covered  way  in  the  mid 
dle  of  it,  down  to  the  water.  Some  of  the  trees  on  the  work  V 
appeared  to  be  two  or  three  hundred  years  old." 

The  usual  variety  of  relics,  fragments  of  pottery,  stone  chip- 
pings,  etc.,  have  been  found  upon  the  site  of  this  work.  About  half 
a  mile  south  of  this,  and  upon  a  greater  eminence,  Mr.  Kirkland 


60  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

traced  another  work,  "  of  less  dimensions  than  the  first,  but 
with  a  deeper  ditch,  and  in  a  situation  more  lofty  and  defen 
sible."  Although  it  is  well  remembered  by  the  older  settlers 
in  the  neighborhood,  nothing  now  remains  to  indicate  that  it 
ever  existed,  except  the  greater  abundance  of  stones  on  the 
line  of  the  former  embankment.  The  position  is  such  as  the 
builders  of  these  works  usually  selected  for  their  defences. 
Upon  one  side  is  a  high  and  precipitous  bank,  at  the  base  of 
which  flows  Allen's  Creek ;  and  in  every  other  direction  the 
ground  slopes  gently.  It  is  altogether  a  well  chosen  and  very 
beautiful  site.  About  three  miles  south  of  these  works,  on  the 
bank  of  the  Genesee  River,  and  probably  falling  in  Caledonia 
township,  Livingston  county,  are  to  be  observed  the  traces  of 
a  mound.  It  was  originally  about  eight  feet  high,  and  was 
filled  with  human  bones  heaped  promiscuously  together.  Still 
another  mound  is  said  to  occur  a  few  miles  N.  W.  of  Scotts- 
ville,  in  the  town  of  Chili. 

Near  the  village  of  West  Rush,  in  the  town  of  Rush,  upon 
the  banks  of  Honeoye  Creek,  were  formerly  two  considerable 
inclosures.  One  of  these  was  situated  immediately  upon  the 
bank  of  the  creek,  which  defended  it  upon  one  side ;  while  the 
other  occupied  higher  ground  a  hundred  rods  to  the  south 
ward.  Each  contained  about  four  acres,  and  the  embankments 
were  originally  four  feet  in  height.  A  few  slight  depressions 
indicating  the  ancient  caches,  with  fragments  of  pottery  scat 
tered  around,  alone  remain  to  mark  the  sites  of  these  structures. 

The  whole  of  this  country  was  occupied  by  the  Senecas ;  and 
their  cemeteries,  and  the  traces  of  their  ancient  forts  and 
towns,  are  particularly  numerous  along  the  Genesee  River,  and 
on  the  banks  of  the  Honeoye.  We  shall  refer  to  these  in 
another  place. 


LIVINGSTON    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  61 


LIVINGSTON   COUNTY. 

THIS  county,  which  adjoins  Monroe  on  the  south,  was  also  a 
favorite  ground  with  the  Senecas.  It  is  unsurpassed  in  beauty 
and  fertility  by  any  territory  of  equal  extent  in  the  State,  and 
abounds  with  mementoes  of  its  aboriginal  possessors,  who 
yielded  it  reluctantly  into  the  hands  of  the  invading  whites. 
Here,  too,  once  existed  a  considerable  number  of  ancient  earth 
works,  but  the  leveling  plough  has  passed  over  most  of  them  ; 
and  though  their  sites  are  still  remembered  by  the  early 
settlers,  but  few  are  sufficiently  well  preserved  to  admit  of  ex 
act  survey  and  measurement. 

"In  1798,"  said  the  venerable  Judge  Augustus  Porter,  of 
Niagara,  in  a  letter  to  0.  H.  Marshall,  Esq.,  of  Buffalo.  "  I 
surveyed  the  Indian  Reservation  of  Kanawageas.  There  were 
then  in  the  open  flats  of  the  Reservation  the  embankments  of 
an  old  fort,  which  included  very  nearly  two  acres.  It  corres 
ponded  in  situation  and  appearance  with  many  others  which  I 
have  seen  in  this  part  of  the  country,  and  which  seem  to  bear 
a  high  antiquity."  The  Kanawageas  Reservation  embraced 
the  township  of  York  in  this  county. 

Judge  Porter  also  mentioned  that  he  knew  of  two  other  works 
on  the  "  Smith  and  Jones's  Flat,"  near  Mount  Morris,  (also  in 
Livingston  county,)  all  of  which  had  the  same  appearance. 

A  work  also  occurs  in  the  town  of  Avon,  not  far  from  the 
beautiful  village  of  Avon  Springs,  upon  the  flats  of  the  Gene- 
see  River.  It  is  described  by  W.  H.  C.  Hosmer,  Esq.,  in  the 
notes  to  his  beautiful  poem  of  "  YONONDIO." 

Another  and  very  similar  work  once  existed  in  the  north 
eastern  part  of  Avon  township,  about  two  and  a  half  miles  from 
the  village  of  Lima.  Some  portions  of  the  lines  may  yet  be 
traced,  but  with  difficulty. 


62  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 


PLATE  VIII.    No.  1. 

Ancient   Work,  Livonia  Township,  Livingston    County,  New 

York. 

THE  work  here  represented  occurs  in  the  township  of  Livo 
nia,  three  miles  N.  E.  of  the  village  of  that  name.  It  is  situ 
ated  upon  the  summit  of  a  commanding  hill,  and  is  the  largest 
inclosure  which  fell  under  the  notice  of  the  author,  within  the 
limits  of  the  State.  It  has  an  area  of  not  less  than  sixteen 
acres.  Where  the  lines  of  the  entrenchment  were  crossed  by 
fences,  and  consequently  preserved  from  the  encroachments  of 
the  plough,  the  embankment  and  ditch  are  distinctly  visible. 
Elsewhere,  however,  the  outlines  can  only  be  traced  by  a  very 
gentle  undulation  of  the  ground,  and  by  the  denser  verdure  on 
the  course  of  the  ancient  trench.  With  the  assistance  of  Mr. 
Haddock,  the  proprietor  of  the  estate,  who  knew  the  work  be 
fore  it  had  been  materially  impaired,  the  original  form  was 
made  out  with  entire  satisfaction.  General  Adams,  who  had 
often  been  over  the  grounds  before  the  removal  of  the  forest, 
states  that  the  ditch  was  breast  deep,  and  the  embankment  of 
corresponding  height.  Caches  were  formerly  discovered  here, 
and  fragments  of  pottery  are  now  abundant. 

The  inclosure  had  four  gateways,  one  of  which,  at  the  north 
western  extremity,  opened  directly  toward  a  copious  spring 
of  water,  as  shown  in  the  plan.  It  was  thought  by  General 
Adams,  from  certain  indications  (which  might  have  been  caused 
by  the  decay  of  palisades),  that  slight  parallel  embankments 
extended  down  the  slope  of  the  hill,  and  inclosed  the  spring 
here  referred  to.  Be  that  as  it  may,  the  position  was  well 
chosen  for  defence,  for  which  purpose  the  work  was  doubtless 
constructed. 

A  mile  and  a  half  to  the  southward  are  remains  of  some  old 
fortified  towns  of  the  powerful  tribe  of  the  Senecas,  for  plans 


vsrr 


i. 


m^siimmSmm 

"m\Wy/IIJl\' 

°/M'l\v'   'i.'/,'ll 


sc/tic  . 
4  00  Feet  to  the  Inc7i 


uvoti/A  TP.  L/y/MGsroN  c?  w.  Y. 


LIVINGSTON    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  63 

and  descriptions  of  which  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  chapter 
on  "  Palisaded  Works." 

It  is  said  that  a  mound,  containing  a  large  number  of  hu 
man  bones,  occurs  near  the  head  of  Hemlock  Lake,  in  the 
township  of  Springwater  ;  but  no  opportunity  was  afforded  of 
visiting  it.  At  various  places  in  the  county  large  cemeteries 
are  found  ;  but  most,  if  not  all,  of  them  may  be  with  safety  re 
ferred  to  the  Senecas.  Indeed,  many  articles  of  European 
origin  accompany  the  skeletons.  A  cemetery  of  large  size,  and, 
from  the  character  of  the  relics  found  in  the  graves,  of  high 
antiquity,  is  now  in  part  covered  by  the  village  of  Lima. 
Pipes,  pottery,  etc.,  are  discovered  here  in  great  abundance ; 
and  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  they  are  identical  with  those  found 
within  the  ancient  inclosures. 

A  number  of  ancient  works  are  reported  to  exist  higher  up 
the  Genesee  River,  in  the  southern  part  of  Livingston  and  in 
Alleghany  counties ;  but  this  entire  region  has  been  brought 
so  thoroughly  under  cultivation,  that  it  was  esteemed  hope 
less  to  look  for  them  with  a  view  to  their  survey  or  measure 
ment.  The  only  information  of  any  authentic  kind  which  was 
received  in  addition  to  what  is  here  presented,  relates  to  a  re 
markable  work  upon  a  high  hill,  not  far  from  the  falls  of  the 
Genesee,  in  Alleghany  county.  Says  Judge  Porter,  in  a  pri 
vate  letter  dated  Niagara  Falls,  November  18th,  1848  :  "  Upon 
the  west  side  of  Genesee  River,  a  mile  or  two  above  the  falls, 
there  is  a  hill,  the  base  of  which  may  perhaps  cover  two  acres 
of  ground,  circular  in  form,  and  shaped  like  a  sugar-loaf,  with 
a  truncated  summit  a  fourth  of  an  acre  in  area.  Upon  this 
summit  is  a  breastwork.  The  height  of  the  hill  is  between 
eighty  and  one  hundred  feet.  I  visited  it  in  1798,  before  any 
settlements  were  made  by  the  whites  nearer  than  Mount 
Morris." 

Mr.  Moses  Long,  of  Rochester,  describes  a  work  which  is 
substantially  the  same,  as  follows  :  "  About  four  miles  above 
the  village  of  Portage,  in  Alleghany  county,  is  a  circular  mound 


64  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

or  hill,  which  rises  probably  a  hundred  feet  above  the  sur 
rounding  interval  or  '  bottom '  lands.  The  acclivity  is  steep  on 
all  sides.  The  Genesee  River  curves  around  its  base,  de 
scribing  nearly  a  semicircle,  and  then  sweeps  on  in  a  tortuous 
course  to  the  cascades  or  cataracts  below  the  village  of  Por 
tage.  The  top  of  the  hill  is  quite  level,  covered  thinly  with 
small  forest  trees,  and  its  area  may  comprise  an  acre.  There 
are  appearances  of  an  entrenchment  around  that  part  of  the 
summit  unprotected  by  the  river. 

"  My  guide  informed  me  that  he  had  been  acquainted  with 
Skongo,  an  aged  chief,  and  several  other  Indians  of  the 
Caneadea  Reservation,  who  all  concurred  in  saying,  that  they 
had  no  knowledge  nor  any  tradition  in  relation  to  this  work. 
Shongo  remembered  the  invasion  of  Sullivan,  when  the  Indians 
cut  up  their  corn  and  threw  it  into  the  river,  and  then  re 
treated  with  their  movable  effects  a  few  miles  up  the  stream 
to  the  top  of  an  elevated  bluff,  where  they  determined  to  await 
the  attack  of  their  enemy.  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the 
entrenchment  might  have  been  made  by  an  advanced  detach 
ment  from  Sullivan's  army." 


GENESEE   COUNTY. 

A  NUMBER  of  very  interesting  remains  formerly  existed  in 
this  county  ;  but  few  of  them  are  sufficiently  well  preserved  to 
be  satisfactorily  traced. 

In  the  town  of  Alabama,  in  the  extreme  northwest  of  the 
county,  were  once  three  of  these  works,  all  of  small  size.  The 
plough  has  completely  defaced  them.  This  town  adjoins  the 
town  of  Shelby,  in  Orleans  county,  on  the  south ;  and  touches 
Newsted,  in  Erie  county,  on  the  west.  It  will  ultimately  be 
seen  that  its  ancient  works  constitute  part  of  a  chain  extending 


GENESEE    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  65 

from  the  "  Lake  Ridge,"  on  the  north,  to  Buffalo  Creek  on  the 
southwest,  a  distance  of  fifty  miles.  Not  less  than  twenty 
ancient  works  are  known  to  occur  within  this  range. 


PLATE  VIII.    No.  2. 

Ancient  Work,  Oakfteld,  Genesee  County,  New  York. 

IN  the  town  of  Oakfield,  half  a  mile  west  of  the  little  village 
of  Caryville,  is  found  the  ancient  inclosure,  a  plan  of  which  is 
here  given.  It  is  remarkable  as  being  the  best  preserved  and 
most  distinct  of  any  in  the  State  which  fell  under  the  notice  of 
the  author.  It  is  situated  upon  the  western  slope  of  one  of 
the  billowy  hills  which  characterize  the  rolling  lands  of  the 
West,  and  between  which  the  streams  find  their  way  to  the 
rivers  and  lakes.  The  banks  of  the  little  stream  which  washes 
the  work  upon  the  north  are  steep,  but  not  more  than  ten  feet 
in  height.  Upon  the  brow  of  the  bank,  where  the  stream  ap 
proaches  nearest  the  work,  the  entrenchment  is  interrupted, 
and  the  slope  toward  the  water  is  more  gentle  than  elsewhere 
— indicating  an  artificial  grade.  The  plan  obviates  the  ne 
cessity  for  a  detailed  description.  The  embankments  will  now 
probably  measure  six  feet  in  average  height,  calculating  from 
the  bottom  of  the  trench.  In  the  part  of  the  work  under  cul 
tivation,  it  is  easy  to  trace  the  ancient  lodges.  Here,  too,  is  to 
be  found  the  unfailing  supply  of  broken  pottery.  At  the  sides 
of  the  principal  gateway  (a)  leading  into  the  inclosure  from 
the  east,  according  to  the  statement  of  an  intelligent  aged  gen 
tleman,  who  was  among  the  earliest  settlers  in  this  region, 
traces  of  oaken  palisades  were  found,  upon  excavation,  some 
thirty  years  ago.  They  were,  of  course,  almost  entirely  de 
cayed.  A  part  of  the  area  is  still  covered  with  the  original 
forest,  in  which  are  trees  of  the  largest  dimensions.  An  oaken 
stump  upwards  of  two  feet  in  diameter  stands  upon  the  em 
bankment  at  the  point  b. 


66  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

About  one  mile  northeast  of  this  work  was  originally  a  large 
inclosure,  but  which  is  now  entirely  destroyed.  It  was  called 
the  "  Bone  Fort"  from  the  circumstance  that  the  early  settlers 
found  within  it  a  mound,  six  feet  in  height  by  thirty  at  the 
base,  which  was  entirely  made  up  of  human  bones  slightly  cov 
ered  with  earth.  A  few  fragments  of  these  bones,  scattered 
over  the  surface,  alone  mark  the  site  of  the  aboriginal  sepulchre. 
The  popular  opinion  concerning  this  accumulation  is,  that  it 
contained  the  bones  of  the  slain,  thus  heaped  together  after 
some  severe  battle.  It  will,  however,  be  seen  that  it  probably 
owed  its  origin  to  the  same  practice  to  which  we  are  to  attribute 
the  "  bone  pits  "  found  elsewhere,  that  of  collecting  together  at 
stated  intervals  the  bones  of  the  dead — a  practice  very  preva 
lent  among  the  northwestern  Indians. 

There  is  no  doubt  but  this  is  one  of  the  works  visited  by 
Rev.  Samuel  Kirkland,  Missionary  to  the  Senecas,  in  1788. 
His  MS.  Journal  was  in  the  possession  of  Messrs.  Yates  and 
Moulton,  who  have  given  a  synopsis  of  the  part  relating  to  this 
group  of  remains  in  the  subjoined  passages. 

"  Having  examined  the  works  (already  referred  to,  in  Mon 
roe  county)  on  the  Genesee,  he  returned  to  Kanawageas,  and 
resumed  his  journey  west,  encamping  for  the  night  at  a  place 
called  Joaika,  i.  e.  Raccoon  (Batavia).  on  the  river  Tonawande, 
about  twenty-six  miles  from  Kanawageas.  Six  miles  from  this 
place  of  encampment,  he  rode  to  the  open  fields,  and  arrived 
at  a  place  called  by  the  Senecas  Tegatainedaghgue,  which  im 
ports  a  '  double-fortified  town]  or  a  town  with  a  fort  at  each  end. 
Here  he  walked  about  half  a  mile  with  one  of  the  Seneca  chiefs, 
to  view  the  vestiges  of  this  double-fortified  town.  They  con 
sisted  of  the  remains  of  two  forts :  the  first  contained  four  acres 
of  ground ;  the  other,  distant  about  two  miles,  at  the  other  ex 
tremity  of  the  ancient  town,  inclosed  about  eight  acres.  The 
ditch  around  the  first  was  about  five  or  six  feet  deep.  A  small 
stream  of  water  and  a  high  bank  circumscribed  nearly  one  third 
of  the  inclosed  ground.  There  were  traces  of  six  gates  or  open- 


GENESEE    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  67 

ings,  and  near  the  centre  a  way  was  dug  to  the  water.  The 
ground  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  water  was  in  some  places 
nearly  as  high  as  that  on  which  the  fort  was  built,  which  might 
render  this  covered  way  to  the  water  necessary.  A  considerable 
number  of  large  thrifty  oaks  had  grown  up  within  the  inclosed 
ground,  both  in  the  ditch  and  upon  the  wall ;  some  of  which 
appeared  to  be  two  hundred  years  old  or  more.  The  ground 
is  of  a  hard,  gravelly  kind,  intermixed  with  loam,  and  more 
plentifully  at  the  brow  of  the  hill.  At  some  places  at  the  bot 
tom  of  the  ditch.  Mr.  Kirkland  ran  his  cane  a  foot  or  more  in 
the  soil ;  from  which  circumstance  he  concludes  that  the  ditch 
was  much  deeper  originally. 

"  Near  the  western  fortification,  which  was  situated  on  high 
ground,  he  found  the  remains  of  a  funeral  pile,  where  the  slain 
were  buried  after  a  great  battle,  which  will  be  spoken  of  here 
after.  The  mound  was  about  six  feet  in  height  by  thirty  feet 
diameter  at  the  base.  The  bones  appeared  at  the  surface,  pro 
jecting  at  many  places  at  the  sides. 

"Pursuing  his  course  toward  Buffalo  Creek,  (his  ultimate 
destination.)  Mr.  Kirkland  discovered  the  vestiges  of  another 
fortified  town.  He  does  not  delineate  it  in  his  MSS.,  but  says: 
'  On  these  heights,  near  the  ancient  fortified  town,  the  roads 
part ;  we  left  the  path  leading  to  Niagara  on  our  right,  and 
went  a  course  nearly  southwest  for  Buffalo  Creek.  After  leav 
ing  these  heights,  which  afforded  an  extensive  prospect,  we 
traveled  over  a  fine  tract  of  land  for  about  six  or  seven  miles, 
then  came  to  a  barren,  white-oak,  shrub  plain.  We  passed  a 
steep  hill  on  our  right,  in  some  places  fifty  feet  perpendicular, 
at  the  bottom  of  which  is  a  small  lake,  affording  another  instance 
of  pagan  superstition.  The  old  Indians  affirm  that  formerly  a 
demon,  in  the  form  of  a  dragon,  resided  in  this  lake,  which  fre 
quently  disgorged  balls  of  liquid  fire.  To  appease  him,  many 
sacrifices  of  tobacco  had  been  made  by  the  Indians.  At  the 
extremity  of  the  barren  plain,  we  came  again  to  Tonawande 
River,  and  forded  it  about  two  miles  above  the  Indian  town  of 


68 


ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 


that  name.     At  a  short  distance  on  the  south  side  of  the  same 
stream,  is  another  fortification.'  " 

FIG.  II. 

Ancient  Work,  Le  Roy,  Genesee   County,  New  York. 

REMNANTS  of  another  ancient  work  occur  in  the  town  of  Le 
Roy,  three  miles  north  of  the  village  of  the  same  name,  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  this  county.  The  accompanying  sketch, 


GENESEE    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  DU 

by  L.  H.  Morgan,  Esq.,  of  Rochester,  although  not  from  an  ex 
act  instrumental  survey,  is  sufficiently  accurate  for  all  essential 
purposes. 

The  position  which  the  work  occupies  is  a  portion  of  a  high 
plain  or  table-land,  nearly  surrounded  by  deep  ravines,  bounded 
by  Fordham's  Brook  and  Allen's  Creek,  which  effect  a  junction 
at  this  point.  These  streams  have  worn  their  beds  through 
the  various  strata  of  lime  and  sandstone  to  the  depth  of  from 
seventy  to  one  hundred  feet,  leaving  abrupt  banks  difficult  of 
ascent..  These  natural  features  are  best  illustrated  by  the 
plan,  which  precludes  the  necessity  for  a  minute  description. 

The  peninsula  measures  about  1300  feet  from  north  to 
south,  by  2000  feet  at  its  broadest  part,  and  1000  feet  across 
the  neck  connecting  it  with  the  general  table.  Positions  simi 
lar  to  this  were  often  selected  by  the  aborigines  for  defensive 
purposes,  but  in  such  cases  have  usually  an  embankment  and 
trench  extending  across  the  isthmus.  In  this  instance,  how 
ever,  the  only  trace  of  art  is  an  embankment  and  ditch,  about 
1500  feet  in  length,  and  running  nearly  east  and  west  across 
the  broadest  part  of  the  peninsula,  and  not  very  far  back  from 
the  edge  of  the  ravine.  The  part  which  is  laid  down  in  the 
plan  is  said  to  be  still  very  distinct ;  the  embankment  being 
between  three  and  four  feet  in  height,  and  the  ditch  of  cor 
responding  depth.  The  western  extremity  of  the  line  curves 
gently  outward,  and  extends  some  distance  down  the  bank, 
which  is  at  this  point  less  abrupt  than  elsewhere.  It  is  said 
that  formerly  trenches  existed  on  the  courses  indicated  by 
dotted  lines  on  the  plan ;  but  the  statement  is  not  confirmed 
by  any  remaining  traces, 

A  number  of  skeletons  have  been  found  here,  together  with 
many  fragments  of  pottery.  There  have  also  been  discovered 
some  heaps  of  small  stones ;  which  have  been  supposed  to  be 
the  missiles  of  the  ancient  occupants  of  the  hill,  thus  got  to 
gether  to  be  used  in  case  of  attack.  Various  relics  of  art, 
pipes,  beads,  stone  hatchets,  arrow-heads,  etc.,  have  been  dis- 


70  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

closed  here  by  the  operations  of  agricul 
ture.  One  of  the  pipes  composed  of 
baked  clay  is  now  in  the  possession  of 
Rev.  C.  Dewey,  of  Rochester.  It  is 
represented  of  half  size  in  the  accompa 
nying  engraving,  Fig.  8.  The  material 
is  very  fine,  and  the  workmanship  good  ; 
so  good  indeed,  as  to  induce  some  doubt 
of  its  aboriginal  origin.  Another  pipe 
carved  from  granular  limestone  was 
found  here,  as  were  also  a  number  of 
beads,  long  and  coarse,  made  of  clay  and 
burned. 

According  to  Mr.  Dewey,  "  the  trench 
was  estimated  by  the  early  observers  at 
from  eight  to  ten  feet  deep,  and  as  many 
wide.  The  earth  in  making  it  had  been  thrown  either  way, 
but  much  of  it  inward.  The  road  formerly  crossed  it  by  a 
bridge.  "When  first  known,  forest  trees  were  standing  both  in 
the  trench  and  on  its  sides.  In  size  and  growth  they  cor 
responded  with  the  forests  around  them.  Prostrate  upon  the 
ground  were  numerous  trunks  of  the  heart-wood  of  black  cherry 
trees  of  larger  size,  which,  it  is  conjectured,  were  the  remains 
of  more  antique  forests,  preceding  the  growth  of  beech  and 
maple.  They  were  in  such  a  state  of  soundness  as  to  be  em 
ployed  for  timber  by  the  early  settlers."* 

From  all  that  remains  of  this  work,  it  is  impossible  to  con 
jecture  for  what  purposes  it  was  constructed.  Indeed,  it  bears 
so  few  evidences  of  design,  that  we  are  led  to  distrust  its  arti 
ficial  origin ;  a  distrust  which  is  strengthened  by  the  circum 
stance,  that  in  a  number  of  instances,  elevations  and  depres 
sions  bearing  some  degree  of  regularity,  but  resulting  from  fis 
sures  in  a  rock  substratum  or  other  natural  causes,  have  been 

*  Schoolcraft's  Notes  on  the  Iroquois,  p.  203. 


ORLEANS    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  71 

mistaken  for  works  of  art.  The  fact  that  the  trench  in  this 
instance  has  a  course  so  nearly  parallel  with  .the  edge  of  the 
ravine,  is  also  a  suspicious  circumstance.  The  spot  was  not 
visited  by  the  author;  but  he  is  authorized  in  saying  that 
Prof.  Dewey,  who  gave  the  first  and  most  complete  account  of 
the  supposed  work,  is  now  inclined  to  the  opinion  that  it  may 
be  the  result  of  natural  causes. 

On  what  is  called  the  "  Knowlton  Farm,"  about  one  mile 
south  of  the  town  of  Batavia,.is  a  small  natural  elevation  which 
was  used  as  a  burial-place  by  the  Indians.  It  has  been  mis 
taken  for  a  mound.  Various  relics  have  been  discovered  in 
ploughing  over  it. 


ORLEANS    COUNTY. 

IT  is  not  known  that  many  ancient  remains  occur  in  this 
county.  There  is,  however,  an  interesting  work  in  Shelby 
township,  one  and  a  half  miles  west  of  Shelby  Centra  The 
following  account  of  it  was  communicated  by  Dr.  S.  M.  Bur 
roughs,  of  Medina,  to  0.  Turner,  Esq.,  of  Buffalo,  by  whom  it 
was  presented  to  the  author. 

"  It  consists  of  a  ditch  and  embankment,  inclosing,  in  a 
form  nearly  circular,  about  three  acres  of  ground.  The  ditch 
is  still  well  defined  and  several  feet  in  depth.  Adjoining  this 
fortification  on  the  south  is  a  swamp,  about  one  mile  in  width 
by  two  in  length ;  which  was  once*,  if  not  a  lake,  an  impassable 
morass.  There  is  a  passage-way  through  the  lines  of  the  en 
trenchment  toward  the  swamp,  and  this  is  the  sole  gateway 
discoverable.  Large  quantities  of  small  stones,  of  a  size  to  be 
thrown  with  the  hand,  are  accumulated  in  piles  within  and  near 
the  work:  Here,  too,  are  many  arrow-heads  of  flint  (silex),  stone 
axes,  and  fragments  of  pottery,  exhibiting  ornaments  in  relief. 
Human  skeletons  almost  entire  have  been  exhumed  here. 


72  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

Half  a  mile  west  of  the  fort  on  a  sand  hill,  an  immense  number 
of  skeletons  have  been  found  in  a  very  perfect  state.  Many 
seem  to  have  been  deposited  in  the  same  grave.  As  some  of 
the  skulls  appear  to  have  been  broken  by  clubs  or  tomahawks, 
is  it  not  probable  that  this  was  the  site  of  some  great  battle  ?" 


ERIE    COUNTY. 

ERIE  county  ranks  next  to  Jefferson  in  the  number  of  its 
ascertained  aboriginal  monuments.  The  topographical  features 
of  the  two  counties  are  much  the  same,  although  the  former  is 
by  far  the  least  elevated.  Along  the  shores  of  Lake  Erie  and 
bordering  Buffalo  Creek  are  low  and  fertile  alluvions ;  back  of 
these  we  come  to  the  limestone  formation,  and  the  country  rises, 
forming  a  second  grand  terrace,  along  the  brow  of  which  most 
of  the  ancient  works  are  situated.  Within  the  limits  of  the 
late  Seneca  Reservation,  which  has  been  only  in  part  brought 
under  cultivation,  there  are  a  number  of  ancient  works,  which 
are  unimpaired  except  by  the  operation  of  natural  causes.  It 
is  extremely  difficult,  however,  to  find  them,  in  consequence  of 
the  forest  and  the  thick  undergrowth.  As  the  Reservation 
is  cleared  up,  no  doubt  new  ones  will  be  discovered ;  and  it  is 
to  be  hoped  sufficient  interest  in  these  matters  may  be  found  to 
exist  among  the  citizens  of  Buffalo,  to  secure  their  prompt  and 
careful  investigation 


PLATE  DC   Wo.  y. 


NEAR    BUFFALO,  ERIE,  C?  N.Y 
B.G-.  Sgui 


,  a. Grave  of  SU<Z  Jacket 
\  A,  ,i  „  Mat-yifemifor 
'.  Ct  fifpres&i.ons,  na.fu.rctj 


ERIE    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC. 


73 


PLATE  IX.     No.  1. 

Ancient  Work  near  Buffalo. 

ONE  of  the  most  interesting  works  in  this  county  is  that  here 
represented.  It  derives  much  of  its  interest  from  the  associa 
tions  connected  with  it.  The  site  which  it  occupies  was  a  fa 
vorite  spot  with  the  Senecas,  and  one  of  their  largest  cemeteries 
occurs  within  its  walls.  Here  is  buried  an  Indian  chief  whose 
name  is  inseparably  interwoven  with  the  history  of  the  Five 
Nations.  He  was  a  man  who  possessed  a  rare  combination  of 
talents,  which,  developed  under  different  circumstances,  would 
have  secured  for  him  a  high  position  among  the  greatest  states 
men  and  proudest  orators  of  the  world.  This  is  hardly  a  proper 
place  to  speak  of  his  character  ;  but  his  devoted  patriotism,  his 
inflexible  integrity,  the  unwavering  firmness,  calm  and  lofty 
dignity,  and  powerful  eloquence  with  which  he  opposed  the  en 
croachments  of  the  whites,  notwithstanding  that  he  knew  all 
resistance  was  vain  and  hopeless — command  an  involuntary 
tribute  to  the  memory  of  the  last  and  noblest  of  the  proud  and 
politic  Iroquois,  the  haughty  and  unbending  Red  Jacket,  who 
died  exulting  that  the  Great  Spirit  had  made  him  an  Indian ! 
Here,  too,  is  buried  Mary  Jemison,  "  the  white  woman,"  who, 
taken  a  prisoner  by  the  Indians  when  a  child,  conformed  to 
their  habits,  became  the  wife  of  one  of  their  chiefs,  and  remained 
with  them  until  her  death.  The  story  of  her  life  is  one  of  the 
most  eventful  of  those  connected  with  our  border  history,  filled 
as  it  is  with  thrilling  adventures  and  startling  incidents. 

The  work  under  notice  is  situated  upon  the  edge  of  the  second 
terrace,  which  is  here  moderately  elevated  above  the  fertile  al 
luvions  bordering  Buffalo  Creek.  The  particular  spot  which 
it  occupies  is  considerably  higher  than  any  other  near  it,  and 
the  soil  is  sandy  and  dry.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  terrace 
bank  upon  one  side  is  made  to  subserve  the  purposes  for  which 
the  trench  and  embankment  were  erected  upon  the  others. 
4 


74  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

There  is  now  no  direct  evidence  to  that  effect ;  but  no  doubt 
can  be  entertained  that,  in  common  with  all  the  other  works  of 
the  State,  the  wall  was  crowned  with  palisades,  which  were  also 
carried  along  the  brow  of  the  terrace.  The  greater  portion  of 
this  work  has  been  for  some  time  under  cultivation ;  and  the 
original  lines  are  so  much  defaced,  that  they  would  probably 
escape  the  notice  of  the  careless  observer.  They  may,  never 
theless,  be  distinctly  traced  throughout  their  extent.  At  the 
point  nearest  the  Indian  cemetery,  a  portion  of  which  is  still 
spared  by  the  plough,  the  embankment  is  very  distinct,  and 
cannot  fail  to  attract  attention.  At  a  short  distance  to  the 
northward  of  the  work  is  a  low  spot  of  ground  or  marsh,  toward 
which  opens  a  gateway.  From  this  was  probably  obtained  a 
portion  of  the  supply  of  water  required  by  the  ancient  occu 
pants  of  the  work.  A  number  of  springs  start  from  the  foot 
of  the  terrace,  where  the  ground  is  also  marshy.  Within  the 
walls  of  this  work  are  to  be  found  the  various  traces  of  occu 
pancy  which  I  have  already  mentioned,  sites  of  old  lodges, 
fragments  of  pottery,  etc. 

Tradition  fixes  upon  this  spot  as  the  scene  of  the  final  and 
most  bloody  conflict  between  the  Iroquois  and  the  "  Gah-kwas" 
or  Eries — a  tradition  which  has  been  supposed  to  derive  some 
sanction  from  the  number  of  fragments  of  decayed  human  bones 
which  are  scattered  over  the  area. 

The  old  mission-house  and  church  stand  in  close  proximity 
to  this  work.  The  position  of  the  former  is  indicated  in  the 
plan.  Red  Jacket's  house  stood  above  a  third  of  a  mile  to  the 
southward  upon  the  same  elevation ;  and  the  abandoned  coun 
cil-house  is  still  standing,  perhaps  a  mile  distant,  in  the  direction 
of  Buffalo.  A  little  distance  beyond,  in  the  same  direction  and 
near  the  public  road,  is  a  small  mound,  called  "  Dah-do-sot" 
artificial  hill,  by  the  Indians,  who  it  is  said  were  accustomed  to 
regard  it  with  much  veneration,  supposing  that  it  covered  the 
victims  slain  in  some  bloody  conflict  in  the  olden  time.  A 
genuine  representative  of  the  Celtic  stock  had  selected  it  as  the 


PLATE  IX  3W.  2.3. 


JV?  2 


tp 


LANCASTER    TP.    ERIE    CO.  NEW  YORK 


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IVa  MILE.     S.E.    OF   N<?  2 
S'atne  Toivttship. 


2  OOft  to  the  Inch 


ERIE    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  75 

site  of  his  cabin,  and  his  worthy  but  somewhat  superstitious 
spouse  was  much  horrified  at  the  intimation  that  it  probably 
contained  the  bones  of  the  unsanctified  heathen.  A  shaft  was 
sunk  near  the  foundation  of  the  cabin  to  the  base  of  the  mound, 
but  nothing  of  interest  was  disclosed.  A  few  half-formed  ar 
row-heads,  some  chippings  of  horn  stone,  and  some  small  bits 
of  charcoal  were  discovered,  intermingled  with  the  soil  thrown 
from  the  excavation.  Whatever  deposits  are  contained  in  the 
mound,  if  any,  probably  occur  immediately  beneath  the  apex 
which  is  occupied  by  the  cabin  of  the  Celt  aforesaid.  Its  in 
vestigation  is  therefore  reserved  for  the  hands  of  some  future 
explorer.  It  was  originally  between  five  and  six  feet  in  height 
by  thirty-five  or  forty  feet  base,  and  is  composed  of  the  adjacent 
loam.  A  depression  still  exists  upon  one  side,  marking  the 
spot  whence  the  material  was  obtained. 


PLATE  IX.     No.  2. 

Ancient  Work,  Lancaster,  Erie  County,  New  York. 

IT  is  not  known  that  any  Ancient  remains  occur  nearer  the 
work  last  described  than  the  one  here  presented,  which  is 
situated  upon  lot  No.  2,  of  the  late  Reservation,  about  four 
miles  southeast  of  the  village  of  Lancaster,  near  Little  Bufia- 
lo  Creek.  It  occurs  upon  the  summit  of  a  small  eminence,  in 
the  midst  of  a  dense  and  tangled  forest,  and  is  reached  by  a 
bridle  path  which  passes  through  it.  It  approaches  more  near 
ly  to  the  form  of  a  true  circle  than  any  work  which  fell  under 
the  observation  of  the  author  in  Western  New  York.  It  is 
small,  containing  less  than  an  acre.  The  embankment  is  how 
ever  very  distinct,  being  not  less  than  three  feet  in  height,  and 
the  ditch  of  equal,  depth.  Trees,  corresponding  in  all  respects 
with  those  of  the  surrounding  forest,  are  standing  within  the 


76  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

area  and  upon  the  wall.  The  ground  is  here  gravelly  and  dry. 
A  number  of  caches  of  considerable  size  were  observed  within 
the  inclosure. 


PLATE  IX.     No.  3. 

Ancient  Work,  Lancaster,  Erie  County,  New  York. 

HALF  a  mile  to  the  southeast  of  the  above  work,  and,  as 
nearly  as  could  be  ascertained,  on  lot  No.  6,  is  a  work  of  larger 
size  and  more  irregular  outline.  It  occupies  a  beautiful  level 
spot  of  ground  not  far  from  the  edge  of  the  second  terrace 
back  from  the  creek.  The  embankment  is  somewhat  higher 
than  that  of  the  previous  work,  and,  with  a  single  exception, 
quite  as  well  defined  as  any  observed  within  the  State.  It  is 
very  slightly  reduced  from  its  original  height,  which  may  be 
estimated  as  having  been  between  seven  and  nine  feet,  measur 
ing  from  the  bottom  of  the  ditch.  At  the  point  indicated  by 
the  letter  a  upon  the  embankment,  is  standing  the  stump  of  a 
withered  pine  tree,  which  is  sixteen  feet  in  circumference  six 
feet  above  the  roots.  A  few  rods  to  the  southward  of  the  work 
is  a  narrow  ravine  leading  off  toward  Little  Buffalo  Creek. 
Within  this  is  a  spring  from  which  flows  a  small  stream.  It 
will  be  observed  that  two  of  the  gateways  of  the  work,  placed 
not  far  apart,  open  in  this  direction — leading  to  the  inference 
that  it  was  here  that  the  water  used  by  the  ancient  occupants 
was  obtained.  A  number  of  large  caches  also  occur  within  this 
work. 


PLATE  X. 


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LANCASTER     TP   ERIEC'N.Y. 
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CLARENCE    TP.    £ft/£   COUNTY  /V.Y. 
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CLARENCE, 
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ERIE    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  77 


PLATE  X.     No.  1. 

Ancient  Work  on  Late  Indian  Reservation,  Erie  County,  New 

York. 

UPON  the  opposite  bank  of  the  creek  already  named,  and 
probably  on  lot  No.  3  of  the  Reservation,  is  the  singular  work 
here  presented.  The  land  upon  this  side  of  the  creek  rises 
abruptly  to  the  height  of  150  or  200  feet,  forming  a  high  bluff. 
The  edge  of  this  bluff  is  cut  by  ravines  into  spurs  or  head 
lands  ;  and  upon  one  of  these  the  work  under  notice  is  situa 
ted.  It  is  not  large,  and  is  singular  only  in  having  wide  in 
terruptions  in  the  embankment — so  wide,  indeed,  that  were  it 
not  from  the  perfect  condition  of  the  lines  where  they  exist,  it 
might  be  conjectured  that  the  structure  was  never  completed. 
Caches  were  noticed  here.  The  ground  is  covered  with  a 
dense  forest,  which  obscures  all  parts  of  the  work. 

To  the  southwestward  of  this,  on  lot  29  of  the  same  range 
and  on  the  south  side  of  "  Big  Buffalo  Creek,"  is  still  another 
similar  work,  which  is  described  by  Mr.  Junius  Clark,  in  a 
private  communication,  as  about  eight  hundred  feet  in  circum 
ference,  having  three  gateways  and  an  open  space  ten  rods 
wide  at  the  southwestern  corner.  A  gateway  on  the  north 
opens  toward  a,  spring  of  water,  distant  about  a  dozen  rods. 
Other  works,  probably  differing  in  no  essential  respect  from 
these,  are  said  to  occur  at  various  places  upon  the  southern 
border  of  the  Reservation. 


78  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

PLATE  X.     No.  2. 

Ancient  Work,  Clarence  Township,  Erie   County,  New    iork. 

PASSING  northward  from  the  localities  last  mentioned  to  the 
distance  of  five  or  six  miles,  keeping  upon  the  limestone 
plateau,  we  find  another  series  of  remains,  composed  of  a  suc 
cession  of  works  placed  a  mile  or  two  apart,  and  extending 
quite  through  the  town  of  Clarence.  The  first  of  these  (No.  2) 
is  two  and  a  half  miles  south  of  the  little  village  of  "  Clarence 
Hollow."  It  has  been  under  cultivation  for  a  number  of  years, 
and  its  outlines  can  now  be  traced  only  by  carefully  observing 
the  stronger  vegetable  growth  upon  the  course  of  the  ancient 
trench.  Where  fence  lines  crossed  the  wall,  short  sections  of 
the  embankment  are  yet  visible.  Fragments  of  pottery  are 
scattered  over  the  area.  If  any  of  the  usual  pits  ever  existed, 
they  have  been  filled  up  by  the  operations  of  agriculture. 


PLATE  X.     No.  3. 

Ancient  Work,  Clarence  Township,  Erie  County,  New  York. 
A  MILE  northward  of  the  work  last  described,  and  occupy 
ing  a  position  in  no  respect  well  adapted  for  defence,  is  the  in- 
closure  here  presented.  It  is  now  much  defaced  ;  the  part, 
however,  which  has  never  been  cultivated  is  very  distinct,  and 
one  or  two  other  short  sections  may  yet  with  some  difficulty 
be  traced.  Flint  chippings,  fragments  of  pottery,  and  a  num 
ber  of  deep  caches  occur  within  the  area.  A  large  Indian 
cemetery  is  said  to  exist  somewhere  between  this  work  and 
the  one  just  noticed.  However  true  this  may  be,  about  half  a 
mile  to  the  northwest  on  the  land  of  a  Mr.  Fillmore,  there  is  a 
large  deposit  of  bones,  a  "  bone  pit,"  some  fourteen  feet  square 
and  four  or  five  in  depth,  filled  with  crumbling  human  skele 
tons.  The  spot  was  marked  by  a  very  slight  elevation  of  the 
earth  a  foot  or  two  in  height. 


PLATE  XI. 


CLARENCE    TP.  Eft  IE  COUNTY     N.  X 
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c°  Jf.y. 

j/Jf.S.  of  the  WZUvLge,  of  AJtroT^.) 

X6.Syu.Ltr  1848. 


ERIE    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  79 

A  couple  of  miles  distant,  still  following  the  brow  of  the 
terrace,  and  not  far  back  of  the  village  of  Clarence,  was  for 
merly  another  similar  work  now  completely  destroyed.  Still 
a  mile  beyond  is  another  (Plate  XL,  No.  1),  which,  although 
upon  grounds  which  have  been  cleared,  is  yet  perfect.  It  is 
situated  upon  a  sandy,  slightly  elevated  peninsula,  which  pro 
jects  into  a  low  tangled  swamp.  A  narrow  strip  of  dry  ground 
connects  it  with  the  higher  lands,  which  border  the  swamp  on 
the  south.  It  is  small,  containing  less  than  an  acre.  The  em 
bankment  does  not  preserve  uniform  dimensions,  but  has  per 
haps  an  average  height  of  three  feet.  The  ditch,  too,  is  irregu 
lar,  both  in  width  and  depth,  owing  probably  in  some  degree 
to  the  rocky  substratum,  which  in  some  places  comes  nearly  or 
quite  to  the  surface  of  the  ground.  The  stumps  of  immense 
pine  trees  are  standing  within  the  work,  as  also  upon  its  walls. 
Here,  too,  are  to  be  found  caches,  fragments  of  pottery,  etc. 
The  position,  for  purposes  of  concealment  and  defence,  is  ad 
mirably  chosen,  and  recalls  to  mind  the  famous  stronghold  of 
the  Narragansetts  in  Rhode  Island,  destroyed  in  1676  by  the 
New  England  colonists  under  Winthrop  and  Church. 

A  short  distance  from  this  work,  upon  the  brow  of  a  neigh 
boring  elevation,  a  number  of  human  skeletons  have  been  ex 
posed  by  the  plough.  They  probably  mark  the  site  of  an  In 
dian  cemetery.  A  mile  to  the  eastward,  upon  a  dry,  sandy 
spot,  is  another  of  the  "  bone  pits  "  already  several  times  re 
ferred  to,  which  is  estimated,  by  those  who  excavated  it  origi 
nally,  to  have  contained  four  hundred  skeletons  heaped  promis 
cuously  together.  They  were  of  individuals  of  every  age  and 
sex.  In  the  same  field  are  found  a  great  variety  of  Indian 
relics,  also  brass  cap  and  belt  plates,  and  other  remains  of  Eu 
ropean  origin.  Not  far  distant,  some  lime  burners  discovered, 
a  year  or  two  since,  a  skeleton  surrounded  by  a  quantity  of 
rude  ornaments.  It  had  been  placed  in  the  cleft  of  the  rock, 
the  mouth  of  which  was  covered  by  a  large  flint  stone 

Passing  onward  in  the  same  direction  which  we  have  been 


80  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

pursuing,  we  come  to  the  Batavia  and  Buffalo  road,  the  great 
thoroughfare  over  which,  previous  to  the  construction  of  the 
railroad  and  canal,  passed  the  entire  western  trade  and  travel. 
Here,  at  a  point  a  few  miles  from  Clarence,  known  as  the 
"  Vandewater  Farm,"  are  the  traces  of  another  work.  A  few 
sections  alone  remain,  barely  sufficient  to  indicate  that  it  was 
of  considerable  size.  The  road  passes  through  its  centre. 


PLATE  XI.     No.  2. 

Ancient  Work,  Fisher's  Falls,  Newsted  Township,  Erie  County, 
New  York. 

THE  sole  remaining  work  in  this  county  which  was  person 
ally  examined  by  the  author  is  the  one  here  presented.  It  is 
situated  five  miles  eastward  of  the  locality  last  noticed,  at  a 
place  known  as  "  Fisher's  Falls,"  in  the  town  of  Newsted,  upon 
the  banks  of  a  creek,  at  present  barbarously  designated  "  Mur 
der  Creek."  The  creek  here  plunges  down  into  a  deep,  nar 
row  gorge  with  precipitous  banks,  which  continues  to  the  edge 
of  the  terrace  a  fourth  of  a  mile  distant.  The  relative  position 
of  the  work,  which  is  of  large  size,  is  correctly  designated  on 
the  plan.  It  is  now  under  cultivation,  and  is  much  reduced 
from  its  original  elevation,  but  can  be  traced  without  difficulty 
throughout  its  extent.  The  older  inhabitants  affirm  that  the 
walls  were  originally  five  feet  in  height,  and  the  ditch  of  cor 
responding  proportions.  Traces  of  the  ancient  caches  are  yet 
to  be  observed ;  and  without  the  inclosure  is  a  rock,  the  sur 
face  of  which  bears  a  number  of  artificial  depressions  hollowed 
out  by  the  Indians — the  rude  mortars  in  which  they  pounded 
their  corn. 

This  work  occurs  upon  the  old  Indian  trail,  which  extended 
from  the  Genesee  River  to  Batavia,  and  thence  to  Buffalo  and 
Niagara.  A  branch  of  this  trail,  after  striking  the  limestone 


CHATJTAUQUE    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  81 

ledge  at  Tonawanda  Creek,  followed  along  its  brow  to  Buffalo 
Creek.  It  diverged  inwardly  at  the  point  under  notice,  so  as 
to  escape  the  impassable  ravine  already  mentioned.  Kirkland, 
missionary  to  the  Senecas  in  1787,  passed  along  this  trail  on 
his  way  to  Buffalo,  and  incidentally  refers  to  a  work  which  he 
encountered  after  crossing  Tonawanda  Creek,  and  which  is 
probably  the  one  here  figured. 

Besides  the  ancient  remains  here  noticed,  there  are  no  doubt 
many  others  of  which  no  information  has  yet  been  obtained. 
It  is  not  probable,  however,  that  they  possess  any  novel  fea 
tures,  or  differ  materially  in  any  respect  from  those  already 
described.  Some  "  bone  pits,"  in  addition  to  those  already 
mentioned,  occur  in  Clarence  township,  and  will  be  noticed  in 
another  connection. 

This  county  abounds  in  traces  of  recent  Indian  occupancy;  in 
fact,  the  rude  cabins  of  the  aborigines  have  scarcely  crumbled 
away,  since  they  deserted  their  favorite  haunts  upon  the  banks 
of  the  Buffalo  Creek  and  its  tributaries.  A  small  band  are  at 
bay  upon  the  borders  of  the  Tonawanda,  sullenly  defying  the 
grasping  cupidity  of  those  who,  Shylock-like,  sustained  by  frau 
dulent  contracts,  are  impatient  to  anticipate  the  certain  doom 
which  impends  over  this  scanty  remnant,  and  would  deny  them 
the  poor  boon  of  laying  their  bones  beside  those  of  their  fathers. 


CHAUTAUQUE    COUNTY. 

THIS  county  abounds  in  ancient  monuments ;  but  no  oppor 
tunity  was  afforded  of  examining  them  during  the  progress  of 
the  investigations  here  recorded.  It  is  probable  they  are  but  a 
continuation  of  the  series  extending  through  Erie  county, 
(which  adjoins  Chautauque  on  the  northeast,)  and  it  is  not 
likely  they  present  any  new  features. 


82  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  occupies  an  eminence  in  Sheri 
dan  township,  four  miles  east  of  Fredonia,  on  the  banks  of 
Beaver  Creek.  It  corresponds,  in  all  respects,  with  the  hill- 
works  already  described.  Another  of  like  character  occurs  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  same  township. 


MONTGOMERY    COUNTY. 
PLATE  XII. 

Ancient  Work,  Minden  Township. 

THE  work  here  figured  is,  in  many  respects,  the  most  remark 
able  in  the  State.  It  is  the  only  one  known  which  is  situated 
upon  waters  flowing  into  the  Hudson  River.  Its  nearest  neigh 
bors  upon  the  west  are  the  ancient  works  in  Onondaga  county, 
a  hundred  miles  distant.  Between  it  and  the  Atlantic,  we  are 
not  aware  of  the  existence  of  a  single  monument  of  like  cha 
racter. 

It  occurs  upon  the  banks  of  the  Otstungo  Creek,  a  branch 
of  the  Otsquago — itself  a  tributary  of  the  Mohawk,  about  four 
miles  in  a  southwestern  direction  from  Fort  Plain,  in  the  town 
of  Minden.  It  is  known  in  the  vicinity  by  the  name  of  "  In 
dian  Hill.'11  The  position  is  admirably  chosen,  and  is  naturally 
by  far  the  strongest  and  most  defensible  of  any  which  fell  un 
der  the  observation  of  the  author  in  the  entire  course  of  his 
explorations  in  this  State.  It  is  a  high  point  of  land  project 
ing  into  a  bend  of  the  creek,  which  upon  one  side  has  cut  away 
the  slate  rock,  so  that  it  presents  a  mural  front  upwards  of  one 
hundred  feet  in  height,  and  entirely  inaccessible.  Upon  the 
opposite  side  is  a  ravine,  within  which  flows  a  small  stream. 
Here  the  slope,  though  not  precipitous,  is  very  abrupt ;  and  if 


XII. 


«ip 


*OQ£*t*avc.I*iGJt. 


B.G  S 


MONTGOMERY    COUNTY EARTH-WORKS,    ETC.  83 

a  line  of  palisades  were  carried  along  its  brow,  it  would  be  en 
tirely  inaccessible  to  a  savage  assailant.  Across  the  narrow 
isthmus  which  connects  this  headland  with  the  adjacent  high 
grounds,  is  an  embankment  and  ditch  two  hundred  and  forty 
feet  in  length,  extending  from  the  precipice  upon  the  south  to 
the  brow  of  the  ravine  on  the  north,  along  which,  curving  in 
ward,  it  is  carried  for  some  distance,  terminating  at  a  gigantic 
pine  six  feet  in  diameter.  It  has  been  supposed  by  some  that 
this  tree  has  grown  upon  the  embankment  since  it  was  erected  ; 
but  it  seems  most  likely  that  it  was  the  starting  point  of  the 
ancient  builders.  The  wall  is  not  of  uniform  height,  but  at 
the  most  elevated  point  rises  perhaps  six  feet  above  the  bottom 
of  the  ditch.  No  gateway  is  apparent,  but  one  may  have  ex 
isted  where  the  "  wood  road  "  now  crosses  the  entrenched  line. 
The  plan  will  afford  an  accurate  idea  of  the  position  and  its 
natural  strength.  The  inclosed  area  is  about  seven  hundred 
feet  long  by  four  hundred  and  fifty  broad  at  its  widest  part, 
and  contains  very  nearly  six  acres.  It  is  densely  covered  with 
immense  pines  throwing  over  it  a  deep  gloom,  and,  with  the 
murmur  of  the  stream  at  the  foot  of  the  precipice,  impressing 
the  solitary  visitor  with  feelings  of  awe,  which  the  professed 
antiquary  might  deem  it  a  weakness  to  acknowledge. 

Fragments  of  pottery  and  a  variety  of  rude  implements,  as 
also  copper  kettles  and  other  articles  of  European  origin,  have 
been  found  upon  excavation  within  the  inclosure  and  in  its 
immediate  vicinity.  At  c  and  d,  skeletons -have  been  disclosed 
by  the  plough.  They  were  well  preserved,  and  had  been  bu 
ried,  according  to  the  Indian  custom,  in  a  sitting  posture. 

The  valley  of  the  Mohawk  in  this  vicinity,  it  is  well  known, 
was  the  favorite  seat  of  the  tribe  whose  name  it  bears,  and  has 
been  made  classical  ground  by  the  stirring  incidents  of  our 
early  history.  It  was  here  the  Indians  maintained  themselves 
until  the  period  of  the  Revolution,  and  it  seems  probable  that 
it  was  they  who  erected  the  work  in  question  at  an  earlier  or 


84 


ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 


later  date  in  their  history.*  It  corresponds  in  position  and 
character  with  the  works  of  the  other  parts  of  the  State,  and  is 
precisely  such  a  structure  as  we  might  expect  to  find  erected 
by  a  very  rude  people.  It  could  not  be  ascertained  that  there 
are  any  traditions  connected  with  it ;  in  fact,  its  existence  is 
scarcely  known  beyond  its  immediate  vicinity.  The  first  inti 
mation  concerning  it  was  derived  from  0.  MORRIS,  Esq.,  of  the 
New  York  Institution  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb,  to  whom  the 
author  would  convey  his  acknowledgments. 


*  In  the  London  Documents  preserved  in  the  Office  of  the  Secretary 
of  State,  is  a  paper  containing  the  observations  of  Wentworth  Green- 
halgh,  who  in  1677  made  a  journey  from  Albany  among  the  Indians  to 
the  westward.  The  following  notices  of  the  towns  of  the  Maquaes,  or 
Mohawks,  are  interesting  in  this  connection : 

"  The  Maquaes  have  four  towns,  viz. :  Cahainaga,  Canagora,  Canajorha, 
Tionondogue,  besides  one  small  village  about  110  miles  from  Albany. 

"  Cahainaga  is  double  stockaded  round ;  has  four  ports,  about  four 
feet  wide  apiece ;  contains  about  twenty-four  houses ;  and  is  situate 
upon  the  edge  of  a  hill,  about  a  bow-shot  from  the  river  side. 

"  Canagora  is  only  singly  stockaded,  has  four  ports  like  the  other, 
contains  about  sixteen  houses,  and  is  situated  upon  a  flat  about  a  stone's 
throw  from  the  water's  edge. 

"  Canajorha  is  also  singly  stockaded,  with  like  number  of  houses,  and 
a  similar  situation  only  about  two  miles  distant  from  the  water. 

"  Tionondogue  is  doubly  stockaded  round,  has  four  ports,  four  feet 
wide  apiece,  contains  about  thirty  houses,  and  is  situated  on  a  hill  about 
a  bow-shot  from  the  river." — Documentary  History  of  New  York,  Vol.  I., 
p.  11. 

The  Indian  town  of  Canajoharie,  or,  as  it  was  sometimes  called,  "  Mid 
dle  Mohawk  Castle,"  says  Mr.  L.  H.  Morgan,  in  his  valuable  "  Letters 
on  the  Iroquois,"  was  situated  at  the  junction  of  the  creek  referred  to 
in  the  text,  the  Ot-squa-go,  and  the  Mohawk.  "  It  occupied  a  little 
eminence  near  the  present  site  of  Fort  Plain,  which  the  Indians  called 
Car-rag-jo-res,  The  Hill  of  Health.  The  name  of  the  village,  in  the  Onei- 
da  dialect,  Can-a-jo-har-d-ld-ga,  signified  a  kettle  inverted  on  a  pole" 


XJH. 


jr.*/. 


PALOSAIH 


OF  THE  SENECA  S,  HEAR  GfMEVA  , 
M.Y. 


SCAL  E . 


S.S.f 


PMHI&BII 


•  >\\ V  \ 


CHAPTER    III. 

PALISADED   INCLOSURES. 

BESIDES  the  earth-works  which  have  already  been  described, 
and  which  furnish  the  principal  objects  of  antiquarian  interest 
in  the  State,  occasional  traces  are  found  of  defensive  structures 
of  a  probably  later  date.  These  traces  consist  chiefly  of  a  suc 
cession  of  small  holes  in  the  earth,  caused  by  the  decay  of  wooden 
palisades  erected  without  the  addition  of  an  embankment  and 
trench.  These  holes,  which  are  never  visible  in  cultivated 
grounds,  enable  us  to  follow  the  outlines  and  make  out  the 
forms  of  the  structures  which  once  existed  where  they  are 
found.  Some  of  these,  as  that  of  Ganundasaga  near  Geneva, 
are  known  to  have  been  occupied  within  the  historical  period. 
And  although  it  seems  probable  that  the  embankments  of  all 
the  inclosures  already  described  were  originally  crowned  with 
palisades,  still  I  have  thought  the  difference  between  these  and 
simple  palisaded  works  sufficiently  marked  to  constitute  the 
basis  of  a  classification.  We  may  also  premise  what  in  the  se 
quel  will  probably  admit  of  no  doubt  in  any  mind,  that  these 
two  classes  of  works  are  of  different  eras,  though  possessing  a 
common  origin. 


PLATE  XIII.     No.  1. 

"  Ganundasaga  Castk?  near  Geneva.  Ontario   County,  New 

York. 

THE  traces  of  this  palisaded  work  are  very  distinct,  and  its 
outline  may  be  followed  with  the  greatest  ease.  Its  preserva 
tion  is  entirely  due  to  the  circumstance  that  at  the  time  of  the 
cession  of  their  lands  at  this  point,  the  Senecas  made  it  a  spe- 


86  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

cial  condition  that  this  spot  should  never  be  brought  under 
cultivation.  "  Here."  said  they,  "  sleep  our  fathers,  and  they 
cannot  rest  well  if  they  hear  the  plough  of  the  white  man  above 
them."  The  stipulations  made  by  the  purchasers  have  been 
religiously  observed. 

The  site  of  this  ancient  palisade  slopes  gently  toward  a  little 
stream,  called  Ganundasaga  Creek,  which  supplied  the  occu 
pants  of  the  fort  with  water.  The  ground  is  covered  with  a 
close  greensward,  and  some  of  the  apple  trees  planted  by  the 
Indians  are  still  flourishing.  In  form  the  work  was  nearly 
rectangular,  having  small  bastions  at  the  northwestern  and 
southeastern  angles.  At  a  and  b  are  small  heaps  of  stone, 
bearing  traces  of  exposure  to  fire,  which  are  probably  the  re 
mains  of  forges  or  fireplaces.  The  holes  formed  by  the  decay 
of  the  pickets  are  now  about  a  foot  deep.  A  fragment  of  one 
of  the  pickets  was  removed  by  Mr.  L.  H.  Morgan,  of  Rochester, 
in  1847,  and  is  now  in  the  State  Cabinet  at  Albany.  It  is  of 
oak. 

A  few  paces  to  the  northward  of  the  old  fort  is  a  low  mound 
with  a  broad  base,  and  undoubtedly  of  artificial  origin.  It  is 
now  about  six  feet  high,  and  is  covered  with  depressions  mark 
ing  the  graves  of  the  dead.  There  is  a  tradition  current  among 
the  Indians  concerning  this  mound,  to  the  effect  that  here  in 
the  olden  time  was  slain  a  powerful  giant,  above  whom  the 
earth  was  afterward  heaped.  They  believe  that  the  bones  of 
this  giant  may  be  found  at  the  base.  It  would  be  interesting 
for  a  variety  of  reasons  to  have  this  mound  excavated.  By 
whatever  people  erected,  it  is  certain  that  it  was  extensively 
used  by  the  Senecas  for  purposes  of  burial. 

In  the  cultivated  fields  surrounding  the  interesting  works 
here  described,  numerous  relics  have  been  discovered — chiefly, 
however,  of  European  origin. 

This  fort  was  destroyed  by  Sullivan  in  1779.  He  burned 
the  palisade,  destroyed  the  crops  in  the  adjoining  fields,  and 
cut  down  most  of  the  fruit  trees  which  the  Indians  had  planted. 


PALISADED    INCLOSURES.  87 

The  name  Ga-nun-da-sa-ga,  given  to  this  locality,  Mr.  Mor 
gan  informs  us,  in  his  "  Letters  on  the  Iroquois,"  signified 
a  new  village,  or  the  place  of  a  new  settlement,  and  was  also  the 
aboriginal  name  of  the  lake,  and  the  creek  upon  which  the  In 
dian  village  was  situated.  Geneva  was  christened  Ga-nun-da- 
sa-ga  "by  the  Senecas,  and  was  known  among  them  by  that  name 
exclusively.  Mr.  Morgan  also  gives  us  the  following  interesting 
tradition  connected  with  the  mound  above  described. 

"  A  Seneca  of  giant  proportions  having  wandered  west  to 
the  Mississippi, .  and  from  thence  east  again  to  the  sea-coast, 
about  the  period  of  the  colonization  of  the  country,  received  a 
gun  from  a  vessel,  together  with  some  ammunition,  and  an 
explanation  of  its  use.  Having  returned  to  the  Senecas  at 
Ga-nun-da-sa-ga,  he  exhibited  to  them  the  wonderful  implement 
of  destruction,  the  first  they  had  ever  seen,  and  taught  them 
how  to  use  it.  Soon  after,  from  some  mysterious  cause,  he  was 
found  dead ;  and  this  mound  was  raised  over  him  on  the  place 
where  he  lay.  It  is  averred  by  the  Indians  that  if  the  mound 
should  be  opened,  a  skeleton  of  supernatural  size  would  be 
found  beneath  it." 


PLATE  XIII.    No.  2. 

Palisaded    Work   of  the  Senecas.   Seneca    Township,    Ontario 
County,  New  York. 

THIS  work  is  situated  about  four  miles  to  the  northwest  of 
that  last  described,  upon  a  high  ridge  of  land  extending  north 
and  south,  and  parallel  to  and  not  far  distant  from  another  on 
which  is  situated  an  ancient  earth-work  figured  on  Plate  VII., 
No.  I.  A  cross  road  from  the  "  Castle  Street  Road  "  to  the 
town  of  Vienna  runs  along  the  crown  of  the  ridge,  and  longitu 
dinally  through  the  work  under  notice.  Upon  the  right  of  this 
road  the  ground  has  been  cultivated,  and  here  the  outlines  of 


88  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

the  work  are  obliterated.  Traces  of  several  caches  which  existed 
within  the  lines  may  however  yet  be  seen.  Upon  the  left,  the 
forest  still  remains  undisturbed ;  and  here  the  outlines  of  the 
inclosure  are  quite  distinct,  yet  not  sufficiently  marked  to  arrest 
the  attention  of  the  passer.  The  indications  are  precisely  the 
same  as  in  the  work  at  Ganundasaga.  Fragments  of  pottery, 
pipes,  and  other  relics  exactly  corresponding  with  those  which 
are  so  frequent  in  the  earth-works  described  in  a  previous 
chapter,  are  also  found  in  abundance  upon  this  site.  The  work 
does  not  appear  to  have  had  bastions,  and  is  probably  of  more 
ancient  date  than  the  one  just  noticed. 


PLATE  XIII.     No.  3. 

Ancient   Work  of  the   Cayugas,  Ledyard   Township,  Cayuga 
County,  New  York. 

THIS  work  is  found  about  twelve  miles  southwest  of  Auburn, 
in  the  town  of  Ledyard,  Cayuga  county.  It  forms  a  good  il 
lustration  of  the  character  of  the  aboriginal  defences.  It  is 
situated  upon  a  high  point  of  ground,  formed  by  the  junction 
of  two  immense  ravines,  which  here  sink  some  hundreds  of  feet 
below  the  table-lands.  A  narrow  spur,  hardly  wide  enough  to 
permit  two  to  walk  abreast,  extends  down  to  the  bottom  of  the 
ravines,  starting  from  the  extreme  point  of  the  headland.  It 
is  still  called  the  "  Indian  Path,"  and  affords  a  practicable  de 
scent  to  the  water.  At  every  other  point  the  banks  are  almost, 
if  not  entirely  inaccessible.  At  some  distance  inward,  extending 
from  the  bank  of  one  ravine  to  the  other,  was  originally  a  line 
of  palisades.  The  holes  left  by  their  decay  are  still  distinct, 
each  about  eight  inches  in  diameter.  The  position  is  eminently 
a  strong  one,  and,  under  the  system  of  attack  practiced  by  the 
Indians,  must  have  been  impregnable.  Within  the  inclosure 
are  to  be  found  caches  and  other  features  common  to  the  class 


XJII. 


PALISADED    INCLOSURES.  89 

of  works  previously  described,  and  with  which  this  work  entirely 
coincides,  except  that  the  embankment  is  wanting. 

So  far  as  could  be  ascertained,  there  is  no  tradition  current 
respecting  this  work.  Still,  as  it  is  known  that  the  principal 
towns  of  the  Cayugas  existed  in  this  vicinity  until  a  very  late 
date,  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  this  was  one  of  their  places  of 
last  resort.  Very  many  traces  of  their  former  occupancy  occur 
here  and  along  the  eastern  shores  of  Cayuga  Lake. 


PLATE  XIV.    No.  1. 

Ancient  Work  of  the  Senecas,  near  Victor,  Ontario  County.  New 

York. 

THE  site  occupied  by  the  work  here  figured  and  the  country 
adjacent,  derives  considerable  interest  from  its  historical  asso 
ciations.  Recent  investigations  have  satisfactorily  determined 
that  the  Marquis  De  Nonville  penetrated  here  in  his  celebrated 
expedition  against  the  Senecas,  in  1687  ;  and  there  is  good 
reason  to  believe  that  the  traces  at  present  existing  are  those 
of  the  palisaded  fort  which  was  destroyed  at  that  time.  They 
occupy  the  summit  of  a  high  hill,  so  steep  upon  most  sides  as 
to  be  ascended  only  with  the  greatest  difficulty.  The  line  of 
the  palisades  can  now  be  traced  only  at  intervals ;  but  from 
the  nature  of  the  ground  and  the  recollection  of  persons  familiar 
with  the  site  before  it  was  disturbed  by  the  plough,  it  was  found 
easy  to  restore  with  accuracy  the  parts  which  have  been  oblit 
erated.  The  sole  entrance  which  can  now  be  made  out  is  at 
the  point  marked  by  the  letter  a,  where  the  palisades  were 
carried  for  some  distance  inward,  leaving  an  open  rectangular 
space,  which  may  have  been  occupied  by  a  block -house  or  some 
thing  equivalent.  Nearly  in  front,  and  at  the  bottom  of  a  deep 
and  narrow  ravine,  a  copious  spring  starts  out  from  the  hill ; 


90  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

probably  the  one  alluded  to  by  De  Nonville  in  his  letter  of  the 
25th  of  August,  1687. 

"On  the  next  day,"  says  this  commander,  "the  14th  of 
July,  we  marched  to  one  of  the  large  villages  of  the  Senecas, 
where  we  encamped.  We  found  it  burned  and  a  fort  nearly 
quite  abandoned ;  it  was  very  advantageously  situated  on  a  hill. 
*  *  *  We  remained  at  the  four  Seneca  villages  for  ten  days. 
All  the  time  was  spent  in  destroying  the  corn,  which  was  in 
such  great  abundance  that  the  loss,  including  the  old  corn  which 
was  in  cache  which  we  burnt,  was  computed  at  400,000  minots 
(1,200.000  bushels)  of  Indian  corn." 

The  large  village  alluded  to  here  is  no  doubt  the  one  which 
was  situated  on  the  eminence  now  known  as  "Boughton's  Hill," 
where  abundant  traces  of  Indian  occupancy  at  this  period  are 
found.  These  consist  of  copper  kettles,  French  hatchets,  bro 
ken  gun-barrels,  arrow-heads,  pipes,  pottery,  burnt  corn,  etc. 
The  iron  recovered  here  at  the  time  of  the  first  settlement  of 
the  country,  was  sufficiently  abundant  to  repay  the  cost  of 
clearing  the  grounds.  Indeed  it  was  the  source  whence  the 
early  blacksmiths,  for  a  long  distance  round,  derived  the  iron 
for  ordinary  consumption ;  and  even  now  the  smithies  in  the 
vicinity  consume  large  quantities  of  the  metal  which  the  opera 
tions  of  agriculture  continue  to  bring  to  light. 

The  remains  upon  Boughton's  Hill  are  mentioned  by  Mr. 
Clinton  as  corresponding  in  all  respects  with  those  which  he 
observed  in  Onondaga  county,  and  to  which  he  was  disposed  to 
ascribe  a  high  antiquity.  They  may  all  be  referred  to  the  same 
period,  and  no  doubt  mark  the  sites  of  Onondaga  and  Seneca 
villages  in  the  17th  century.* 

*  Having  alluded  to  the  expedition  of  De  Nonville,  it  will  not  prove 
uninteresting  to  insert  the  following  account  of  his  attack  on  the  Seneca 
towns,  which  we  find  in  the  "  Rochester  Democrat,"  translated  from  a 
MS.  History  of  Canada,  by  M.  L'Abbe  de  Belmont,  discovered  in  the 
Royal  Library  of  Paris,  and  printed,  for  private  circulation,  under  the 
direction  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Quebec.  For  further  information 


PLATE  XIV 


PALISADED    INCLOStlRES.  91 

PLATE   XIV.     No.  2. 

Ancient    Work  of  the  Senecas,  Livonia  Township,  Livingston 
County,  New  York. 

THE  traces  of  another  palisaded  work,  no  doubt  erected  by 
the  Senecas,  but  probably  at  a  later  period  than  that  near  Vic 
tor,  may  still  be  seen  on  the  farm  of  Gen.  Adams,  in  Livonia 
township,  Livingston  county,  two  miles  northeast  of  the  village 
of  Livonia. 

respecting  this  famous  expedition,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  memoirs 
upon  that  subject  by  Mr.  0.  H.  Marshall,  published  by  the  Historical 
Society  of  New  York. 

After  a  long  accoimt  of  the  organization  of  the  expedition,  the  Abbe 
de  Belmont  proceeds : 

"Never  had  Canada  seen,  and  never  perhaps  will  it  see,  a  similar 
spectacle :  three  barques  anchored  opposite  a  camp,  composed  of  one 
fourth  regular  troops,  with  the  General's  suite ;  one  fourth  habitans  in 
four  battalions,  with  the  gentry  of  the  country ;  one  fourth  Christian 
Indians ;  and,  finally,  a  crowd  of  all  the  barbarous  nations,  naked,  tattooed 
and  painted  over  the  body  with  all  sorts  of  figures,  wearing  horns  on 
their  heads,  queues  down  their  backs,  armed  with  arrows.  We  could  hear 
during  the  night  a  multitude  of  languages,  and  songs  and  dances  in 
every  tongue.  The  Tsonnontouans  (Senecas)  came  to  reconnoitre  us, 
and  then  went  to  burn  their  village  and  take  to  flight. 

"  We  entered  and  pushed  our  batteaux  into  the  water  of  the  little  lake 
of  Atcniatarontague  (Irondequoit) ;  built  a  fort,  and  took  our  depar 
ture  from  it  on  the  12th  of  July,  toward  evening.  M.  de  Callieres,  Lt. 
General,  led  the  advanced  guard,  composed  of  three  hundred  Christian 
Indians  on  the  right,  commanded  by  M.  de  Sainte  Hilene.  The  pagan 
savages  on  the  left  with  three  companies — 100  Ottawas,  800  Poux,  100 
Chaouanons  or  Illinois,  and  50  Hurons  commanded  by  the  interpreters, 
Nicholas  Perrot,  Micheloque  and  Penan,  with  the  runners  and  volun 
teers  in  the  centre,  making  from  eight  to  nine  hundred  men.  At  some 
distance  after  the  advanced  guard,  came  the  main  body  of  four  battal 
ions  of  regulars  and  four  of  militia.  M.  the  Marquis  was  at  the  head 
of  the  regular  troops,  and  M.  Dugue  of  the  militia. 

"  The  march  was  a  little  hurried;  the  wearied  troops  were  dying  of 
thirst ;  the  day  was  hot.  The  two  bodies  found  themselves  too  distant 


92  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

It  occupied  a  beautiful,  broad  swell  of  land,  not  commanded 
by  any  adjacent  heights.  Upon  the  west  side  of  the  lines  is  a 
fine,  copious  spring  ;  for  which  the  Indians  had  constructed  a 
large  basin  of  loose  stones.  The  form  and  dimensions  of  the 
work  are  given  in  the  accompanying  plan.  Upon  a  little  ele 
vation  to  the  left,  as  also  in  the  forest  to  the  northward,  are 

from  each  other.  The  scouts,  too,  were  deceived ;  for  having  come  to  the 
deserts  (barrens  or  plains)  of  Gaensara,  (Victor,)  they  found  five  or  six 
women  who  were  going  round  in  the  fields.  This  was  a  lure  which  the 
Iroquois  held  out  to  the  French  to  make  them  believe  that  they  were 
all  in  their  village.  In  fact,  this  was  the  cause  of  the  hasty  march  of 
the  Marquis,  who  wished  to  surround  the  town  before  their  leaving  it. 
But  the  principal  cause  of  all  that  happened  was  that  Garistatsi  and 
Gannagenroguen  Agniers  (Mohawks)  stole  from  the  barque  in  the  night, 
and  went  to  the  Tsonnontouans  and  told  them  our  number,  our  plan, 
and  above  all,  that  the  savages  carried  on  their  heads  red  head-dresses. 

"  Thereupon  all  the  warriors  took  off  their  breech-clothes  in  order  to 
pass  for  the  Ottawas,  who  do  not  wear  them,  and  made  them  into  head 
dresses,  which  was  of  service  in  enabling  them  to  pass  for  our  allies. 
Finally  the  women  and  old  men,  loaded  with  what  they  had  of  value, 
fled  to  Oniongouen  (Cayuga).  All  the  warriors,  to  the  number  of  eight 
hundred,  having  burned  their  village,  resolved  to  prepare  an  ambuscade. 

"  The  territory  of  Gaensara  is  very  hilly.  The  village  is  upon  a  high 
hill,  which  is  mounted  by  three  little  hills  or  terraces ;  at  the  foot  is  a 
valley,  and  opposite  some  other  hills,  between  which  passes  a  large 
brook  overhung  with  woods,  descending  and  rapid,  Avhich  in  the  valley 
makes  a  little  marsh,  covered  with  alders.  This  is  the  place  which 
they  selected  for  their  ambuscade.  They  divided  themselves,  posted 
three  hundred  men  along  the  falling  brook  between  two  hills,  in  a  great 
thicket  of  beech  trees,  and  500  at  the  bottom  of  these  hills  in  the  marsh 
and  among  the  alders,  with  the  idea  that  the  first  ambuscade  of  three 
hundred  men  should  let  the  army  pass  and  then  attack  them  in  the  rear, 
which  would  force  it  to  fall  into  the  second  ambuscade  which  was  con 
cealed  at  the  bottom  of  the  hills  in  the  marsh.  They  deceived  them 
selves,  nevertheless ;  for  as  the  advanced  guard  which  M.  de  Callieres 
cammanded  was  very  distant  from  the  body  under  the  command  of  the 
Marquis,  they  believed  that  it  was  the  entire  army.  Accordingly  as 
the  advanced  guard  passed  near  the  thicket  of  beeches,  after  making  a 
horrible  whoop  (sakaqua),  they  fired  a  volley. 

"It  is  inevitably  very  disadvantageous  to  be  taken  by  surprise  and 


PALISADED    INCLOSURES.  93 

extensive  cemeteries.  Many  articles  of  comparatively  late  date 
are  found  in  the  graves.  The  area  of  the  work  was  about  ten 
acres. 

Three  miles  to  the  eastward  formerly  existed  the  traces  of 
a  work  represented  to  have  been  octangular  in  shape,  and  of 
considerable  size.  It  has  been  wholly  obliterated. 

fall  into  an  ambush.  The  Ottawas  and  the  heathen  Indians  all  fled ; 
they  were  at  the  left  of  the  French  advanced  guard  composed  of  the  three 
companies  of  Du  Luth,  La  Durantajre  and  Tonti,  which  they  left  exposed. 
The  Christian  Indians  of  the  Mountain  and  the  Sault,  and  the  Abe- 
naquis  held  fast  and  gave  two  volleys. 

"  M.  the  Marquis  advanced  with  the  main  body,  composed  of  the 
Royal  troops,  to  occupy  the  height  of  the  hill  where  there  was  a  little 
fort  of  pickets ;  but  the  terror  and  disorder  of  the  surprise  were  such 
that  there  was  only  M.  de  Valrenne  who  distinguished  himself  there, 
and  M.  Dugue,  who,  bringing  up  the  rear-guard,  rallied  the  battalion  of 
Berthier  which  was  in  flight,  and  being  at  the  head  of  that  of  Montreal, 
fired  two  hundred  shots.  M.  the  Marquis  en  chemise,  sword  in  hand, 
drew  up  the  main  body  in  battle  order  and  beat  the  drums  at  a  time 
that  scarcely  any  one  was  to  be  seen.  This  frightened  the  three  hun 
dred  Tsonnontouans  of  the  ambuscade,  who  fled  from  above  toward 
the  500  who  were  ambushed  below.  The  fear  that  all  the  world  was 
upon  them,  made  them  fly  with  so  much  precipitation  that  they  left 
their  blankets  in  a  heap  and  nothing  more  was  seen  of  them. 

"  A  council  was  held ;  it  was  resolved,  as  it  was  late,  to  sleep  on 
the  field  of  battle  for  fear  of  another  surprise.  On  going  into  the  place 
of  the  ambuscade,  14  Iroquois  were  found  dead  or  dying.  Their  heads 
were  cut  off  and  brought  into  camp.  One  of  those  still  alive  said  that 
there  were  800  of  them — 300  above  and  500  below — and  that  the  Onion- 
gouens  (Cayugas)  were  to  come  the  next  day,  which  was  the  reason 
that  they  stayed  where  they  were.  There  were  found  at  several  places, 
during  the  succeeding  days,  provisions  and  some  other  dead  savages — or 
if  not  dead  our  men  killed  them. 

"For  our  loss.  Father  Angelran,  a  celebrated  Missionary  to  the 
Ottawas,  was  shot  through  the  thighs ;  among  the  French,  Nantara, 
Filliatro  and  others  were  killed. 

"  Among  our  savages,  were  slain  Tegaretouan  Le  Soleil,  of  the 
mountain,  a  brave  Christian  in  every  respect ;  Oyernatariben,  La  Cen- 
dre  Chaud  (Hot  Ashes),  of  the  Sault.  Ooniagon,  Le  Ciel  des  Tionnonta- 
tes,  Huron.  Three  wounded  savages  and  many  Frenchmen,  who  suffered 


94  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

In  Queen's  county  there  were,  some  years  ago,  traces  of  abo 
riginal  works,  which  seem  to  have  differed  very  slightly  from  a 
portion  of  those  just  noticed.  They  are  thus  described  by 
Judge  Samuel  Jones,  in  a  notice  of  the  local  history  of  Oyster 
Bay,  written  in  1812: 

"  When  this  part  of  Long  Island  was  first  settled  by  the 
Europeans,  they  found  two  fortifications  in  the  neighborhood 
of  Oyster  Bay,  upon  a  neck  of  land  ever  since  called,  from  that 
circumstance,  '  Fort  Neck.'  One  of  them,  the  remains  of 
which  are  very  conspicuous,  is  on  the  southernmost  point  of 
land  on  the  neck  adjoining  the  Salt  Meadow.  It  is  nearly,  if 
not  exactly,  a  square ;  each  side  of  which  is  about  one  hundred 
feet  in  length.  The  breastwork  or  parapet  is  of  earth ;  and 
there  is  a  ditch  on  the  outside,  which  appears  to  have  been 
about  six  feet  wide.  The  other  was  on  the  southernmost  point 

a  great  deal,  were  brought  in,  borne  upon  litters  by  our  men,  who 
relieved  each  other  several  times  each  day. 

"  On  the  morrow  we  marched  in  battle  order,  watching  for  an  attack. 
We  descended  the  hill  by  a  little  sloping  valley  or  gorge,  through  which 
ran  a  brook  bordered  with  thick  bushes,  and  which  discharges  itself  at 
the  foot  of  the  hill  in  a  marsh  full  of  deep  mud,  but  planted  with  alders 
so  thick  that  one  could  scarcely  see.  There  it  was  that  they  had  stationed 
their  two  ambuscades,  and  where  perhaps  we  would  have  been  defeated, 
if  they  had  not  mistaken  our  advanced  guard  for  the  whole  army,  and 
been  so  hasty  in  firing.  The  Marquis  acted  very  prudently  in  not  pur 
suing  them,  for  it  \vas  a  trick  of  the  Iroquois  to  draw  us  into  a  greater 
ambuscade.  The  marsh,  which  is  about  twenty  acres  (arpens)  in  extent, 
being  passed,  we  found  about  two  or  three  hundred  wretched  blankets, 
several  miserable  guns,  and  began  to  perceive  the  famous  Babylon  of 
the  Tsonnontouans,  a  city  or  village  of  bark,  situate  at  the  top  of  a 
mountain  of  earth,  to  which  one  rises  by  three  terraces  (hills).  It 
appeared  to  us,  from  a  distance,  to  be  crowned  with  round  towers,  but 
these  were  only  large  chests  (drums)  of  bark  about  four  feet  in  length,  set 
the  one  in  the  other,  some  five  feet  in  diameter,  in  which  they  keep  their 
Indian  corn.  The  village  had  been  burnt  by  themselves ;  it  was  now 
eight  days  since.  We  found  nothing  entire  in  the  town  except  the  town 
cemetery  and  the  graves.  It  was  filled  with  snakes  and  animals,  a  great 
mask  with  teeth  and  eyes  of  brass,  and  a  bear-skin  with  which  they 


PALISADED    INCLOSURES.  95 

of  the  Salt  Meadow,  adjoining  the  bay,  and  consisted  of  pali 
sades  set  in  the  ground.  The  tide  has  worn  away  the  meadow 
where  the  fort  stood,  and  the  place  is  now  part  of  the  bay  and 
covered  with  water ;  but  my  father  has  often  told  me  that 
within  his  memory  part  of  the  palisades  were  still  standing. 
In  the  bay,  between  the  Salt  Meadow  and  the  beach,  are  two 
islands  of  marsh,  called  Squaw  Islands  ;  and  the  uniform  tra 
dition  among  the  Indians  is,  that  the  forts  were  erected  by 
their  ancestors  for  defence  against  their  enemies,  and  that  upon 
the  approach  of  a  foe,  they  sent  their  women  and  children  to 
these  islands,  which  were  in  consequence  called  Squaw  Isl 
ands."* 

Examples  of  this  class  of  aboriginal  remains  might  be  greatly 
multiplied.  Those,  however,  which  have  already  been  pre 
sented,  will  serve  sufficiently  to  illustrate  their  character.  In 

juggle  in  their  cabins.  There  were  in  the  four  corners  great  boxes  of 
grain  which  they  had  not  burnt.  Thejr  had,  outside  this  post,  their 
Indian  corn  in  a  picket  fort  at  the  top  of  a  little  mountain,  steep  (or  cut 
down,  scarped)  on  all  sides,  where  it  was  knee  high,  throughout  the  fort. 

"  The  Tsonnontouans  have  four  large  villages,  which  they  change 
every  ten  years,  in  order  to  bring  themselves  near  the  woods  and  to 
permit  them  to  grow  up  again.  They  call  them  Gaensara,  Tohaiton, 
which  are  the  two  larger,  Onnontague,  Onnenaba,  which  are  smaller. 
In  the  last  dwells  Ganonketahoui,  the  principal  chief.  We  cut  the 
standing  grain,  already  ripe  enough  to  eat,  and  burned  the  old.  It  was 
estimated  that  we  burnt  one  hundred  thousand  minots  of  old  grain,  and 
a  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  minots  of  that  standing  in  the  field,  besides 
the  beans,  and  the  hogs  that  we  killed.  Sixty  persons  died  of  wounds 
received  in  the  battle,  and  a  multitude  perished  of  want;  many  fled 
beyond  the  great  mountains  of  Onnontague,  which  separate  them  from 
Virginia,  and  went  to  dwell  in  the  country  of  the  Adastoez  ;  the  greater 
part  of  the  captives  dispersed,  and  since  that  time  the  Tsonnontouanne 
nation,  which  counted  ten  thousand  souls  in  all,  has  been  reduced  to 
half  that  number.  From  here,  against  the  expectations  of  the  Indians, 
who  believed  that  we  were  going  to  Cayuga,  Onondaga  and  the  other 
Iroquois  cantons,  we  went  to  establish  a  fort  at  Niagara,  where  we 
arrived  after  three  days'  journey." 

*  Coll.  N.  Y.  Hist.  Soc.,  Vol.  III.,  p.  338. 


96  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

all  are  found  relics  corresponding  in  every  particular  with  those 
discovered  within  the  walls  of  the  earth-works  described  in  the 
preceding  chapter,  but  usually  with  the  addition  of  articles  of 
later  date  and  known  European  origin.  This  circumstance  is 
not  without  its  importance  in  estimating  the  probable  depend 
ence  between  the  two  classes  of  remains. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

MOUNDS,    BONE-HEAPS,    ETC. 

VARIOUS  references  to  mounds  or  tumuli,  resembling  those 
found  in  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi,  have  been  made  in  the 
preceding  pages.  These  mounds  are  far  from  numerous,  and 
hardly  deserve  a  separate  notice.  It  is,  nevertheless,  an  inter 
esting  fact  to  know  that  isolated  examples  occur,  in  situations 
where  it  is  clear  no  dependence  exists  between  them  and  the 
grand  system  of  earth-works  of  the  Western  States.  It  serves 
to  sustain  the  conclusion  that  the  savage  Indian  tribes  occa 
sionally  constructed  mounds ;  which  are,  however,  rather  to  be 
considered  as  accidents  than  the  results  of  a  general  practice. 
The  purposes  of  the  mounds  of  New  York,  so  far  as  can  be  de 
termined,  seem  uniformly  to  have  been  those  of  sepulture. 
They  generally  occur  upon  commanding  or  remarkable  posi 
tions.  Most  of  them  have  been  excavated,  under  the  impulse 
of  an  idle  curiosity,  or  have  had  their  contents  scattered  by 
"  money-diggers,"  a  ghostly  race,  of  which,  singularly  enough, 
even  at  this  day,  representatives  may  be  found  in  almost  every 
village.  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  discover  one  upon  Tona- 
wanda  Island,  in  Niagara  River,  which  had  escaped  their  mid 
night  attentions.  It  was  originally  about  fifteen  feet  in  height. 
At  the  base  appeared  to  have  been  a  circle  of  stones,  perhaps 
ten  feet  in  diameter,  within  which  were  several  small  heaps  of 
bones,  each  comprising  three  or  four  skeletons.  The  bones  are 
of  individuals  of  all  ages,  and  had  evidently  been  deposited 
after  the  removal  of  the  flesh.  Traces  of  fire  were  to  be  dis 
covered  upon  the  stones.  Some  chippings  of  flint  and  broken 
arrow-points,  as  also  some  fragments  of  deer's  horns,  which  ap- 
5 


98  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

peared  to  have  been  worked  into  form,  were  found  among  the 
bones.  The  skulls  had  been  crushed  by  the  superincumbent 
earth. 

The  mounds  which  formerly  existed  in  Erie,  Genesee,  Mon 
roe,  Livingston,  St.  Lawrence,  Oswego,  Chenango,  and  Dela 
ware  counties,  all  appear  to  have  contained  human  bones,  in 
greater  or  less  quantities,  deposited  promiscuously,  and  em 
bracing  the  skeletons  of  individuals  of  all  ages  and  both  sexes. 
They,  probably,  all  owe  their  origin  to  a  practice  common  to 
many  of  the  North  American  tribes,  of  collecting  together,  at 
fixed  intervals,  the  bones  of  their  dead,  and  finally  depositing 
them  with  many  and  solemn  ceremonies.  They  were  some 
times  heaped  together  so  as  to  constitute  mounds ;  at  others, 
placed  in  pits  or  trenches  dug  in  the  earth ;  and  it  is  probable 
they  were  in  some  instances  buried  in  separate  graves,  placed  in 
long  ranges,  or  deposited  in  caverns,  either  promiscuously  or 
with  regularity. 

The  period  when  this  second  burial  took  place  occurred  at 
different  intervals  among  the  different  tribes,  but  was  univer 
sally  denominated  the  "  Festival  of  the  Dead."  Bartram. 
speaking  of  the  burial  customs  of  the  Floridian  Indians,  says : 
"  After  the  bone-house  is  full,  a  general  solemn  funeral  takes 
place.  The  nearest  kindred  and  friends  of  the  deceased,  on  a 
day  appointed,  repair  to  the  bone-house,  take  up  the  respective 
coffins,  and,  following  one  another  in  the  order  of  seniority,  the 
nearest  relations  and  connections  attending  their  respective 
corpses,  and  the  multitude  succeeding  them,  singing  and  la 
menting  alternately,  slowly  proceed  to  the  place  of  general 
interment,  when  they  place  the  coffins  in  order,  forming  a  pyra 
mid.  Lastly,  they  cover  all  over  with  earth,  which  raises  a 
conical  hill  or  mount.  They  then  return  to  town  in  order  of 
solemn  procession,  concluding  the  day  with  a  festival,  which  is 
called  the  '  Feast  of  the  Dead.'  "*  The  author  here  quoted 

*  Travels,  p.  514. 


MOUNDS,    BONE-HEAPS,    ETC.  99 

adds,  in  a  note,  that  it  was  the  opinion  of  some  ingenious  men 
with  whom  he  had  conversed,  "  that  all  those  artificial  pyra 
midal  hills,  usually  called  '  Indian  Mounts,'  were  raised  on 
such  occasions,  and  are  generally  sepulchres ;"  from  which 
opinion  he  takes  occasion  to  dissent.  There  is  no  doubt  a 
wide  difference  between  the  mounds  thus  formed  and  the  great 
bulk  of  those  connected  with  the  vast  ancient  inclosures  of  the 
Western  States. 

The  large  cemeteries  which  have  been  discovered  in  Ten 
nessee,  Kentucky,  Missouri,  and  Ohio,  seem  to  have  resulted 
from  a  similar  practice.  In  these  the  skeletons  were  generally 
packed  in  rude  coffins  composed  of  flat  stones,  placed  in  ranges 
of  great  extent.  The  circumstance  that  many  of  these  coffins 
were  not  more  than  two  or  three  feet  in  length,  gave  rise  to 
the  notion  of  the  former  existence  here  of  a  pigmy  race.  The 
discovery  of  iron  and  some  articles  of  European  origin  in  one 
of  these  cemeteries,  in  the  vicinity  of  Augusta,  Kentucky,  shows 
that  this  mode  of  burial  existed  at  a  late  period  among  the 
Indians  in  that  direction. 

The  "bone  pits"  which  occur  in  some  parts  of  Western 
New  York,  Canada,  Michigan,  etc.,  have  unquestionably  a  cor 
responding  origin.  Several  of  these  have  been  described  in  a 
previous  chapter.  They  are  of  various  sizes,  but  usually  con 
tain  a  large  number  of  skeletons.  In  a  few  instances  the  bones 
appear  to  have  been  arranged  with  some  degree  of  regularity. 

One  of  these  pits  discovered  some  years  ago,  in  the  town  of 
Cambria,  Niagara  county,  was  estimated  to  contain  the  bones 
of  several  thousand  individuals.*  Another  which  I  visited  in 


*  This  locality  was  visited  and  examined  by  Mr.  0.  Turner,  of  Buffalo, 
in  1823.  The  account  of  this  gentleman  is  published  in  his  history  of 
the  "  Holland  Purchase,"  p.  27,  and  is  as  follows : 

"  The  location  commands  a  view  of  Lake  Ontario  and  the  surrounding 
country.  An  area  of  six  acres  of  level  land  seems  to  have  been  occu 
pied  ;  fronting  which,  upon  the  circular  verge  of  the  mountain,  were  the 
distinct  remains  of  a  wall.  Nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  area  was  a  de- 


100 


ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 


the  town  of  Clarence.  Erie  county,  contained  not  less  than  four 
hundred  skeletons.  A  deposit  of  bones  comprising  a  large 
number  of  skeletons  was  found,  not  long  since,  in  making  some 
excavations  in  the  town  of  Black  Rock,  situated  on  Niagara 
River,  in  Erie  county.  They  were  arranged  in  a  circle,  with 
their  heads  radiating  from  a  large  copper  kettle,  which  had 
been  placed  in  the  centre,  and  filled  with  bones.  Various  im 
plements  both  of  modern  and  remote  date  had  been  placed 
beside  the  skeletons. 

In  Canada  similar  deposits  are  frequent.  Accounts  of  their 
discovery  and  character  have  appeared  in  various  English  pub 
lications,  among  which  may  be  named  the  "  British  Colonial 
Newspaper,"  of  September  24th,  1847,  and  the  "Edinburgh 
New  Philosophical  Journal,"  for  July,  1848.  From  a  commu 
nication  in  the  latter,  by  Edward  "W.  Bawtree,  M.D.,  the  sub 
joined  interesting  facts  are  derived. 

A  quantity  of  human  bones  was  found  in  one  spot,  in  1846, 
near  Barrie,  and  also  a  pit  containing  human  bones  near  St. 
Vincent's.  Great  numbers  were  found  in  the  latter,  with  several 
copper  and  brass  kettles,  and  various  trinkets  and  ornaments 
in  common  use  among  the  Indians.  This  discovery  led  to  the 
examination  of  a  similar  pit,  about  seven  miles  from  Penetan- 
queshene,  in  the  township  of  Giny.  "  This  pit  was  accident 
ally  noticed  by  a  Canadian  while  making  sugar  in  the  neigh 
borhood.  He  was  struck  by  its  appearance  and  the  peculiar 

pository  of  the  dead.  It  was  a  pit  excavated  to  the  depth  of  four  or 
five  feet,  filled  with  human  bones,  over  which  were  piles  of  sandstone. 
Hundreds  seem  to  have  been  thrown  in  promiscuously,  of  both  sexes 
and  all  ages.  Numerous  barbs  or  arrow-points  were  found  among  the 
bones  and  in  the  vicinity.  It  has  been  conjectured  that  this  had  been 
the  scene  of  some  sanguinary  battle,  and  that  these  are  the  bones  of  the 
slain.  A  tree,  standing  directly  over  the  spot,  had  been  cut  down,  upon 
the  stump  of  which  could  be  counted  230  concentric  circles  of  growth. 
Rude  fragments  of  pottery,  pieces  of  copper,  and  iron  instruments  of 
rude  workmanship,  had  been  ploughed  up  within  the  area ;  also  charred 
wood,  corn,  and  cobs." 


MOUNDS,    BONE-HEAPS,    ETC.  101 

sound  produced  at  the  bottom  by  stamping  there  ;  and,  in  turn 
ing  up  earth  to  a  little  depth,  was  surprised  to  find  a  quan 
tity  of  human  bones.  It  was  more  accurately  examined  in 
September.  1847,  and  found  to  contain,  besides  a  great  number 
of  human  skeletons,  of  both  sexes  and  all  ages,  twenty-six  cop 
per  and  brass  kettles  and  boilers ;  three  large  conch-shejls ; 
pieces  of  beaver-skin  in  tolerable  preservation ;  a  fragment  of 
a  pipe  ;  a  large  iron  ax,  evidently  of  French  manufacture ; 
some  human  hair  (that  of  a  woman) ;  a  copper  bracelet ;  and  a 
quantity  of  flat  auricular  beads,  perforated  through  the  centre. 

"  The  form  of  the  pit  is  circular,  with  an  elevated  margin  ; 
it  is  about  fifteen  feet  in  diameter,  and  before  it  was  opened 
was  probably  nine  feet  deep  from  the  level  of  its  margin  to  its 
centre  and  bottom  ;  it  was,  in  one  word,  funnel-shaped.  It  is 
situated  on  the  top  of  a  gentle  rise,  with  a  shallow  ravine  on 
the  east  side,  through  which,  at  certain  seasons,  runs  a  small 
stream.  The  soil  is  light,  free  from  stones,  and  dry.  A  small 
iron-wood  tree,  about  two  inches  in  diameter,  is  growing  in  the 
centre  of  the  pit. 

"  The  kettles  in  the  pit  were  found  ranged  at  the  bottom, 
resting  on  pieces  of  bark,  and  filled  with  bones.  They  had 
evidently  been  covered  with  beaver-skins.  The  shells  and  the 
ax  were  found  in  the  intervals  be 
tween  the  kettles.  The  beads  were 
in  the  kettles  among  the  bones,  gen 
erally  in  bunches  or  strings. 

"  The  kettles,  of  which  Fig.  9  is 
an  example,  resemble  those  in  use  at 
the  present  day,  and  appear  to  be 
formed  of  sheet  copper,  the  rim  be-  FIG.  9. 

ing  beaten  out  so  as  to  cover  an  iron  band  which  passes  around 
the  mouth  of  the  vessel.  The  iron  handle,  by  which  they  were 
suspended,  hooks  into  eyes  attached  to  the  band  above  men 
tioned.  The  smallest  holds  about  six  gallons  ;  the  largest,  not 
far  from  sixteen  gallons.  The  copper  is  generally  very  well 


102 


ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 


preserved  ;  the  iron,  however,  is  much  corroded.     Two  of  the 
kettles  were  of  brass. 


FIG.  10. 

"  The  largest  of  the  conch-shells,  Fig.  10,  weighs  three  pounds 
and  a  quarter,  and  measures  fourteen  inches  in  its  longest  dia 
meter.  Its  outer  surface  has  lost  its  polish,  and  is  quite  honey 
combed  by  age  and  decomposition  ;  the  inside  still  retains  its 
smooth,  lamellated  surface.  It  has  lost  its  color,  and  appears 
like  chalk.  A  piece  had  been  cut  from  its  base,  probably 
for  making  the  beads  that  were  found  in  it.*  From  the  base 
of  the  columella  of  the  smallest  shell  a  piece 
had  been  cut,  evidently  for  the  purpose  of 
manufacturing  beads.  The  extreme  point 
of  the  base  of  each  shell  had  a  perforation 
through  it. 

"The  ax,  Fig.  11,  is  of  nearly  the  same 
model  with  the  tomahawk  now  in  use  among 
the  Chippeway  Indians,  though  very  much 
larger,  measuring  eleven  inches  in  length 
and  six  inches  and  a  half  along  its  cutting 
edge.  Numbers  of  these  have  been  found 
in  the  neighborhood  on  newly  cleared  land. 

"  The  pipe  is  imperfect.     It  is  made  of 

*  Dr.  Bern  W.  Budd,  of  New  York,  states  that  this  shell,  the  pyrula 
perversa,  abounds  in  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  particularly  in  Mobile  Bay. 
It  has  also  been  found  by  the  officers  of  the  U.  S.  Coast  Survey  as  far 
north  as  Cape  Fear,  in  North  Carolina. 


MOUNDS,    BONE-HEAPS.    ETC.  103 

the  earthenware  of  which  so  many  specimens  are  found  in  the 
neighborhood,  in  the  form  of  vessels  and  pipes.  The  spots 
where  the  manufacture  of  these  articles  was  carried  on  are  still 
to  be  seen  in  some  places. 

"  The  beads  are  formed  of  a  white,  chalky  substance,  varying 
in  degree  of  density  and  hardness ;  they  are  accurately  circular, 
with  a  circular  perforation  in  the  centre ;  of  different  sizes, 
from  a  quarter  to  half  an  inch,  or  rather  more,  in  diameter ; 
but  nearly  all  of  the  same  thickness,  not  quite  the  eighth  of  an 
inch.  They  may  be  compared  to  a  peppermint  lozenge  with  a 
hole  through  the  centre.  They  were  found  in  bunches  or 
strings,  and  a  good  many  were  still  closely  strung  on  a  fibrous, 
woody  substance.  The  bracelet  is  a  simple  band  of  copper,  an 
inch  and  a  half  broad,  closely  fitting  the  wrist.  The  hair  is 
long,  evidently  that  of  a  woman,  and  quite  fresh  in  appearance. 

"  Another  pit,  about  two  miles  from  that  just  noticed,  was 
also  examined  in  September.  It  is  considerably  smaller,  being 
not  more  than  nine  feet  in  diameter,  by  about  the  same  original 
depth.  It  is  situated  on  rising  ground,  in  a  light,  sandy  soil, 
and  there  is  nothing  remarkable  in  its  position.  A  beech  tree, 
six  inches  thick,  grew  from  its  centre.  It  contained  about  as 
many  skeletons  as  the  other  pit,  but  had  no  kettles  in  it.  The 
bones  were  of  individuals  of  both  sexes,  and  of  all  ages.  Among 
them  were  a  few  foetal  bones.  Many  of  the  skulls  bore  marks 
of  violence,  leading  to  the  belief  that  they  were  broken  before 
burial.  One  was  pierced  by  a  round  hole,  like  that  produced 
by  a  musket -ball.  A  single  piece  of  a  brass  vessel  was  found  in 
the  pit ;  it  had  been  packed  in  furs.  A  large  number  of  shell 
beads,  of  various  sizes,  were  also ^ found  here.  Besides  these, 
there  were  some  cylindrical  pieces  of  earthenware  and  porcelain 
or  glass  tubes,  from  an  inch  to  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  diameter, 
and  from  a  quarter  to  two  inches  long.*  The  former  had  the 

*  These  were  clearly  the  European  imitations  of  the  much-prized 
Indian  wampum. 


104 


ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 


appearance  of  red  and  white  tobacco-pipes,  worn  away  by  fric 
tion,  the  latter  of  red  and  white  glass.  A  hexagonal  body,  with 
flat  ends,  about  an  inch  and  a  half  in  diameter,  and  an  inch 
thick,  was  also  found.  It  was  composed  of  some  kind  of  porce 
lain,  of  hard  texture,  nearly  vitreous,  and  much  variegated  in 
color,  with  alternate  layers  of  red,  blue,  and  white.  It  was 
perforated  through  the  centre. 

"  The  third  of  these  pits  was  examined  in  November,  1847. 
It  is  situated  in  the  township  of  Oro,  on  elevated  ground.  The 
soil  is  a  light,  sandy  loam.  It  measures  about  fifteen  feet  in 
diameter,  has  the  distinctly  defined  elevated  ring,  but  the  centre 
less  depressed  than  in  those  before  examined,  which  may  have 
resulted  from  the  greater  bulk  of  its  contents.  On  its  margin 
grew  formerly  a  large  pine,  the  roots  of  which  had  penetrated 
through  the  pit  in  every  direction.  The  bones,  which  were  of 
all  sizes,  were  scarcely  covered  with  earth.  The  skeletons 
amounted  to  several  hundreds  in  number,  and  were  well  pre 
served.  On  some,  pieces  of  tendon  still  remained,  and  the 
joints  of  the  small  bones  in  some  cases  were  unseparated.  Some 
of  the  skulls  bore  marks  of  violence. 

"  As  in  the  first  noticed  pit,  so  in  this,  were  found  twenty-six 
kettles — four  of  brass  and  the  rest  of  copper — one  conch-shell, 
one  iron  ax,  and  a  number  of  the  flat  perforated  shell  beads. 
The  kettles  were  arranged  in  the  form  of  a  cross  through  the 
centre  of  the  pit,  and  in  a  row  around  the  circumference.  The 
points  of  this  cross  seem  to  have  corresponded  with  the  cardinal 
points  of  the  compass.  All  except  two  of  the  kettles  were 
placed  with  their  mouths  downward.  The  shell  was  found  un 
der  one  of  the  kettles,  which  had  been  packed  with  beaver-skins 
and  bark.  The  kettles  were  very  well  preserved,  but  had  all 
been  rendered  useless  by  blows  from  a  tomahawk.  The  holes 
were  broken  in  the  bases  of  the  vessels.  Should  any  doubt 
exist  as  to  the  purposes  of  these  pits,  the  fact  that  the  kettles 
were  thus  rendered  unserviceable  would  tend  to  increase  that 


MOUNDS,    BONE-HEAPS,    ETC.  105 

doubt,  as  it  appears  to  have  been  a  proceeding  so  very  contrary 
to  the  habits  and  ideas  of  the  Indians  in  general.* 

"A  pipe  was  found  in  this  pit,  described  as  having  been 
composed  of  blue  limestone  or  hard  clay.  On  one  side  it  had 
a  human  face,  the  eyes  of  which  were  formed  of  white  pearly 
beads.  An  iron  ax  and  sundry  beads  were  also  found  here. 

"  A  fourth  pit  was  opened  in  December,  1 847.  It  is  situated 
on  a  gentle  slope,  in  the  second  concession  west  of  the  Pene- 
tanqueshene  road,  in  the  township  of  Giny.  In  size  it  corre 
sponds  very  nearly  with  the  two  first  described,  and  probably 
contained  about  the  same  number  of  skeletons.  In  it  were 
found  sixteen  conch-shells  ;  a  stone  and  clay  pipe ;  a  number 
of  copper  bracelets  and  ear  ornaments  ;  eleven  beads  of  red 
pipe-stone ;  copper  arrow-heads ;  a  cup  of  iron  resembling  an 
old  iron  ladle ;  beads  of  several  kinds,  and  various  fragments 
of  furs.  The  shells  were  arranged  around  the  bottom  of  the 
pit,  not  in  a  regular  row,  but  in  threes  and  fours  ;  the  other 
articles  were  found  mixed  with  the  bones.  The  bones  were  of 
all  sizes,  and  the  skulls  unin 
jured  except  by  time.  The 
accompanying  sketch  (Fig.  12) 
will  sufficiently  indicate  the 
character  of  the  pipes.  The 
arrow-heads,  as  they  are  sup 
posed  to  have  been,  were  simple 
folds  of  sheet  copper,  resembling 
a  roughly-formed  ferule  to  a  FlG-  12> 

walking-stick.  Besides  the  flat  circular  beads,  which  were 
found  in  great  numbers,  were  a  few  cylindrical  porcelain  bead's, 
etc.  The  red  stone  beads  were  five  eighths  of  an  inch  broad, 

*  Dr.  Bawtree  is  mistaken  in  supposing  this  practice  uncommon. 
The  Oregon  Indians  invariably  render  useless  every  article  deposited 
with  their  dead,  so  as  to  remove  any  temptation  to  a  desecration  of  the 
grave  which  might  otherwise  exist.  A  similar  practice  prevailed  among 
the  Floridian  Indians. 

5* 


106  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

and  three  eighths  thick,  with  small  holes  at  one  end,  uniting 
with  each  other. 

"  There  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  above  constitute  but  a 
very  small  proportion  of  the  pits  that  may  be  found  in  this 
neighborhood.  The  French  Canadians,  now  that  their  attention 
has  been  directed  to  the  subject,  say  that  they  are  of  frequent 
occurrence  in  the  woods.  But  besides  these  larger  and  more 
evident  excavations,  smaller  ones  of  the  same  shape  and  appa 
rent  character  are  often  met  with.  They  are  usually  called 
1  potato  pits.'  So  far  as  they  have  been  examined,  they  do  not 
contain  deposits.  Some  appear  to  have  been  covered  with  bark 
at  the  bottom.  One  was  examined  in  which  were  found  some 
pieces  of  pottery  and  one  or  two  human  bones,  mixed  with  stones 
and  black  mould  ;  which  seemed  to  strengthen  the  supposition 
previously  formed,  that  they  were  Indian  graves  from  which 
the  bones  had  been  removed  for  interment  in  the  large  pits. 

"  A  fifth  pit  has  also  been  examined.  It  occurs  about  eight 
miles  from  Penetanqueshene,  near  the  centre  of  the  town  of 
Giny.  Close  by  its  side  is  another  pit,  which  is  not  circular 
but  elongated,  with  a  mound  on  each  side.  At  the  brow  of 
the  hill,  if  it  may  be  so  called,  and  commencing  about  twenty 
yards  from  the  pits,  there  is  the  appearance  of  a  long  ditch 
extending  in  a  southwestern  direction ;  another  ditch  about 
half  the  length  of  this  meets  it  at  right  angles  on  the  top  of  the 
rising  ground,  and  is  continued  a  few  yards  beyond  the  point 
of  junction ;  a  third  ditch  intersects  the  short  one,  as  shown  in 
the  following  plan. 

'•  The  two  first  ditches  form  two  sides  of  a  parallelogram ; 
but  there  is  no  sign  of  an  inclosure  at  the  other  sides,  where 
the  ground  is  low  and  nearly  level.  The  long  ditch  is  seventy- 
five  paces  in  length,  the  other  half  that  length.  The  first  ter 
minates  at  a  moderate-sized  gum  tree,  the  latter  at  the  foot  of 
a  large  birch.  These  ditches  appear  to  be  a  succession  of  small 
pits  or  graves,  and  have  an  average  depth  of  from  one  to  two 
feet.  Excavation  disclosed  no  bones.  Upon  the  north  side  of 


MOUNDS,    BONE-HEAPS,    ETC. 


107 


the  shorter  and  upper  ditch,  several  Indian  graves  were  found, 
not  placed  in  any  order,  but  scattered  around  at  various  dis- 


FIG.  13. 

tances  apart.  Three  of  these  were  examined  and  found  to 
contain  human  bones.  In  one  was  an  entire  skeleton.  No 
implements  or  ornaments  accompanied  the  bones 

"  The  bones  in  the  large  pits  were  covered  with  three  or  four 
feet  of  earth,  which  is  more  than  is  usually  found  over  them, 
and  the  marginal  ring  was  in  consequence  less  apparent.  It 
contained  very  few  relics  besides  the  bones,  which,  from  their 


108  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

decayed  condition,  seemed  to  indicate  that  burials  here  were 
made  at  a  very  remote  period." 

In  Isle  Ronde,  situated  near  the  extremity  of  Lake  Huron, 
is  a  burial-place  of  the  aborigines  corresponding  generally  with 
those  just  described.  It  was  visited  in  1843  by  Mr.  School- 
craft,  who  states  that  the  human  remains  appeared  to  have  been 
gathered  from  their  original  place  of  sepulture  and  finally  de 
posited  here.  The  bones  were  all  arranged  longitudinally, 
from  north  to  south,  in  a  wide  grave  or  trench.  There  is  upon 
the  same  island  an  Indian  cemetery  of  comparatively  modern 
date,  in  which  the  interments  were  made  in  the  ordinary  way. 
Another  similar  burial-place  was  visited  by  Mr.  Schoolcraft,  in 
the  town  of  Hamilton,  seventeen  miles  west  of  the  head  of 
Lake  Ontario.  The  burials  had  been  made  on  a  high,  dry 
ridge,  in  long  trenches  and  rude  vaults ;  the  bones  being  piled 
upon  each  other  longitudinally,  as  at  Isle  Ronde.  The  trenches 
extend  over  the  entire  ridge  ;  and  one  of  these  examined  by 
Mr.  Schoolcraft  was  estimated  to  include  not  less  than  fifteen 
hundred  square  feet.  Various  remains  of  art.  pipes,  shells, 
beads,  etc.,  were  found  with  the  bones,  and  among  them  sev 
eral  brass  kettles,  in  one  of  which  were  five  infant  skulls. 

The  origin  of  the  various  cemeteries  above  noticed  admits 
of  no  doubt.  The  same  practice  which  Bartram  described  as 
existing  among  the  Floridians,  and  which  we  have  reason  to 
believe  prevailed  among  the  Indians  of  Tennessee,  Kentucky, 
etc.,  also  existed  in  a  slightly  modified  form  among  the  more 
northern  tribes.  They,  too,  had  their  solemn  "  Festival  of  the 
Dead,"  which  is  minutely  described  by  Charlevoix,  Brabeuf, 
Creuxius,  and  other  early  writers.  Says  Charlevoix :  "  This 
grand  ceremony,  the  most  curious  and  celebrated  of  all  con 
nected  with  the  Indian  religion,  took  place  every  eight  years 
among  some  of  the  tribes,  every  ten  years  among  the  Hurons 
and  the  Iroquois.  It  was  called  the  '  Fete  des  Morts]  Festival 
of  the  Dead,  or  i  Feslin  des  Ames.1 

"  It  commenced  by  the  appointment  of  a  place  where  they 


MOUNDS,    BONE-HEAPS,    ETC,  109 

should  meet.  They  then  chose  a  president  of  the  feast,  whose 
duty  it  was  to  arrange  everything  and  send  invitations  to  the 
neighboring  villages.  The  appointed  day  arrived,  all  the  In 
dians  assembled  and  went  in  procession,  two  and  two,  to  the 
cemetery.  Among  some  tribes  of  stationary  habits,  the  ceme 
tery  was  a  regular  burial-ground  outside  the  village.  Some 
buried  their  dead  at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  and  others  suspended 
them  on  scaffolds  to  dry  ;  this  last  was  a  common  proceeding 
among  them  when  absent  from  home  on  a  hunting  expedition, 
so  that  on  their  return  they  might  more  conveniently  carry 
the  body  with  them. 

"  Arrived  at  the  cemetery,  they  proceeded  to  search  for  the 
bodies  ;  they  then  waited  for  some  time  to  consider  in  silence 
a  spectacle  so  capable  of  furnishing  serious  reflections.  The 
women  first  interrupted  the  silence  by  cries  of  lamentation, 
which  increased  the  feeling  of  grief  with  which  each  person 
seemed  overcome.  They  then  used  to  take  the  bodies,  arrange 
the  separate  and  dry  bones,  and  place  them  in  packets  to  carry 
on  their  shoulders.  If  any  of  the  bodies  were  not  entirely  de 
composed,  they  separated  the  flesh,  washed  the  bones,  and 
wrapped  them  in  new  beaver-skins.  They  then  returned  in 
the  same  procession  in  which  they  came,  and  each  deposited 
his  burden  in  his  cabin.  During  the  procession  the  women 
continued  their  lamentations,  and  the  men  testified  the  same 
marks  of  grief  as  on  the  death  of  the  person  whose  bones  they 
bore.  This  was  followed  by  a  feast  in  each  house,  in  honor  of 
the  dead  of  the  family.  The  succeeding  days  were  considered 
as  public  days,  and  were  spent  in  dancing,  games,  and  combats, 
at  which  prizes  were  bestowed.  From  time  to  time  they  ut 
tered  certain  cries,  which  were  called  '  les  cris  des  aims? 

u  They  made  presents  to  strangers,  and  received  presents 
from  them  on  behalf  of  the  dead.  These  strangers  sometimes 
came  a  hundred  and  fifty  leagues.  They  also  took  advantage 
of  these  occasions  to  treat  on  public  affairs  or  select  a  chief. 
Everything  passed  with  order,  decency  and  moderation ;  and 


110  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

every  one  seemed  overcome  with  sentiments  suitable  to  the  oc 
casion.  Even  the  songs  and  dances  expressed  grief  in  some  way. 
After  some  days  thus  spent,  all  went  in  procession  to  a  grand 
council-room  fitted  for  the  occasion.  They  then  suspended 
the  bones  and  bodies  in  the  same  state  as  they  had  taken  them 
from  the  cemetery,  and  placed  there  the  presents  intended  for 
the  dead.  If  among  the  skeletons  there  happened  to  be  one 
of  a  chief,  his  successor  gave  a  grand  feast  in  his  name.  In 
some  cases  the  bodies  were  paraded  from  village  to  village,  and 
everywhere  received  with  great  demonstrations  of  grief  and 
tenderness,  and  everywhere  presents  were  made  to  them. 
They  then  took  them  to  the  spot  designated  as  their  final  rest 
ing-place.  All  their  ceremonies  were  accompanied  with  music, 
both  instrumental  and  vocal,  to  which  each  marched  in  cadence. 

"  The  last  and  common  place  of  burial  was  a  large  pit,  which 
was  lined  with  the  finest  skins  and  anything  which  they  con 
sidered  valuable.  The  presents  destined  for  the  dead  were 
placed  on  one  side ;  and  when  the  procession  arrived,  each 
family  arranged  itself  on  a  sort  of  scaffold  around  the  pit ;  and 
as  soon  as  the  bodies  were  deposited,  the  women  began  again 
to  cry  and  lament.  Then  all  the  assistants  descended  into  the 
pit,  and  each  person  took  a  handful  of  earth,  which  he  carefully 
preserved,  supposing  it  would  serve  to  give  them  success  in 
their  undertakings.  The  bodies  and  bones  were  arranged  in 
order,  and  covered  with  furs  and  bark,  over  which  were  placed 
stones,  wood  and  earth.  Each  person  then  returned  to  his 
home,  but  the  women  used  to  go  back  from  day  to  day  with 
some  sagamatie  (pounded  parched  corn)."* 

We  have,  in  the  quotation  from  Bartram  on  page  98,  the  evi 
dence,  (not  the  most  conclusive,  it  is  true,)  that  some  of  the 
mounds  of  the  South  were  general  cemeteries,  and  not  of  a  very 
high  antiquity. 


*  Charlevoix,  Vol.  II.,  p.  194,  ubi  supra ;  Creuxii  Historia  Canaden- 
sis,  p.  97. 


MOUNDS,    BONE-HEAPS,    ETC.  Ill 

In  a  letter  dated  Mt.  Sylvan,  Mississippi,  August,  1847,  Mr. 
R.  Morris  presents  the  following  facts  respecting  the  mounds 
of  that  region.  «  A  mound  which  I  opened  last  summer,  twelve 
miles  southeast  from  this  place,  had  in  it  not  less  than  fifty  full 
skeletons,  all  pretty  near  the  surface.  They  were  packed  with 
out  order,  with  layers  of  pounded  clay  between  them.  Those 
nearest  the  top  were  black  and  quite  fresh,  but  lower  down 
they  were  greatly  decayed.  No  relics  accompanied  them,  al 
though  in  the  graves  where  the  later  races  buried  their  dead, 
are  found  many  ornaments,  utensils  and  weapons. 

"  A  few  miles  from  Panola,  there  is  a  mound  quite  full  of 
human  bones.  Hundreds  may  be  thrown  out  with  a  sharpened 
cane.  Another  mound,  about  twelve  miles  north  of  the  place 
just  named,  was  opened  a  year  or  two  since.  In  the  centre 
was  found  a  structure  like  a  cistern,  nearly  round,  four  feet 
across,  and  filled  with  soil.  This  being  removed,  an  earthen 
vessel  of  singular  form  and  material  was  taken  out." 

Mounds  designed  as  general  cemeteries,  if  indeed  there  be  any 
in  the  Western  States,  are  certainly  few  in  number,  and  of 
modern  date.  One,  containing  many  skeletons,  disposed  in 
layers,  formerly  existed  in  Belmont  county,  Ohio.  Whether  it 
was  secondarily  appropriated  by  the  Indians  or  built  by  them, 
it  is  not  presumed  to  say ;  the  remains  found  in  it  were  indu 
bitably  of  the  recent  tribes  and  of  late  deposit. 

The  tumulus  examined  by  Mr.  Jefferson  on  the  low  grounds 
of  the  Ravenna  River,  and  described  in  his  "  Notes  on  Virgi 
nia,"  is  attributed  by  him  to  the  recent  tribes  of  Indians,  by 
whom  it  was  probably  built.  The  stream  on  which  it  occurs  is 
one  of  the  lower  branches  of  the  James  River,  which  empties 
into  the  Atlantic.  We  have  no  satisfactory  evidence  that  the 
race  of  the  mounds  passed  over  the  Alleghanies,  though  they 
seem  to  have  turned  the  flank  of  that  range  a  little  upon  the 
north  and  on  the  south.  The  existence  of  a  few  tumuli  to  the 
east  of  these  mountains,  unless  in  connection  with  other  and 
extensive  works,  such  as  seem  to  have  marked  every  step  of  the 


112  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

progress  of  that  race,  is  .therefore  of  little  importance,  and  not 
at  all  conclusive  upon  this  point ;  especially  as  it  will  hardly  be 
denied  that  the  existing  races  of  Indians  did  and  still  do  occa 
sionally  construct  mounds  of  small  size.  This  mound  was  esti 
mated  by  Mr.  Jefferson  to  contain  the  remains  of  a  thousand 
individuals,  a  portion  of  which,  particularly  toward  the  surface, 
were  placed  without  order,  while  the  remainder  seemed  to  have 
been  deposited  with  a  certain  degree  of  regularity.  This  is 
certainly  a  very  large  estimate  of  the  contents  of  a  barrow  but 
forty  feet  base  by  seven  feet  in  height.  It  will  not  be  out  of 
place  to  remark  here,  that  by  the  unpracticed  observer,  the 
bones  of  a  hundred  skeletons  placed  together  would  probably 
be  mistaken  for  those  of  several  hundred  or  a  thousand. 

We  have,  it  is  true,  but  very  few  accounts  of  the  construction 
of  mounds  by  the  existing  tribes  of  Indians.  Lewis  and  Clark 
noticed,  in  their  travels  west  of  the  Mississippi  river,  a  spot 
"  where  one  of  the  great  chiefs  of  the  Mahas  had  been  interred. 
He  was  buried  on  a  hill,  and  a  mound  twelve  feet  in  diameter 
and  six  feet  in  height  erected  over  him."*  Beck  mentions  a 
large  mound  on  the  Osage  river,  which  had  been  erected  within 
the  last  thirty  or  forty  years,  by  the  0 sages,  in  honor  of  one 
of  their  dead  chiefs,  f  Mention  is  made  in  the  documents 

*  Exp.,  vol.  I.,  p.  43.  "  Blackbird  (Wash-ing-gah-sahba),  chief  of  the 
Omahaws,  or  Mahas,  died  in  1800,  and  was  interred  in  a  sitting  posture 
on  the  back  of  his  favorite  horse,  upon  the  summit  of  a  high  bluff  of 
the  Missouri,  '  that  he  might  see  the  white  people  ascend  the  river  to 
trade  with  his  nation.'  A  mound  was  raised  over  him,  on  which  food 
was  regularly  placed  for  many  years  after ;  but  this  has  been  discontin 
ued,  and  the  flag-staff  which  crowned  it  has  been  removed." — James 
Exp.,  vol.  I.,  p.  204. 

t  Gaz.  of  Mo.,  p.  308;  James'  Exp.,  vol.  II.,  p.  34.  This  is  probably 
the  same  mound  referred  to  by  Mr.  Sibley,  who  derived  his  information 
from  a  chief  of  the  Osages.  "  He  stated  that  the  mound  was  built,  when 
he  was  a  boy,  over  the  body  of  a  chief,  called  Jean  Defoe  by  the  French, 
who  unexpectedly  died  while  his  warriors  were  absent  on  a  hunting 
expedition.  Upon  their  return  they  heaped  a  mound  over  his  remains, 
enlarging  it  at  intervals  for  a  long  period,  until  it  reached  its  present 
height." — Featherstonhaugh' 's  Trav.,  p.  70. 


MOUNDS,    BONE-HEAPS,     ETC.  113 

accompanying  the  President's  message  for  1806,  of  a  "mound 
of  considerable  size,"  erected  by  the  Natchez  Indians,  near 
Nachitoches,  when  they  were  expelled  from  Louisiana  in  1728. 
They  are  also  said  to  have  fortified  themselves  near  this  place. 
Mr.  Catlin  observed  a  conical  mound,  ten  feet  in  height,  at  the 
celebrated  pipe-stone  quarries  of  the  Cotcau  des  Prairies,  which 
had  been  erected  over  the  body  of  a  young  chief  of  the  Sioux 
tribe,  who  had  been  accidentally  killed  on  the  spot.*  James 
also  presents,  upon  what  he  deems  good  authority,  an  account 
of  the  discovery  by  a  hunting  party,  in  1816,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Le  Mine  river  in  Missouri,  of  a  newly-made  mound  ;  which, 
when  opened,  disclosed  the  body  of  a  white  officer,  clothed  in 
regimentals,  placed  in  a  sitting  posture  on  a  mat,  and  surrounded 
by  a  rude  inclosure  of  logs,  twelve  feet  long,  three  wide  and 
four  high.  He  had  evidently  met  a  violent  death,  and  had 
been  scalped. f  To  what  nation  he  belonged,  and  by  whom  the 
mound  was  erected,  is  unknown.  The  Mandans  sometimes 
constructed  little  mounds  of  earth,  not  however  for  burial. 
They  were  connected,  in  some  mysterious  way,  with  their  cere 
monies  for  the  dead.  "  Their  dead,"  says  Catlin,  "  are  placed, 
closely  enveloped  in  skins,  upon  scaffoldings,  above  the  reach 
of  wild  animals.  When  the  scaffolds  decay  and  fall  to  the 
ground,  the  nearest  relatives  bury  the  bones  excepting  the 
skull.  The  skulls  are  arranged  in  circles  of  a  hundred  or 
more,  on  the  prairies,  with  their  faces  all  looking  to  the  centre. 
In  the  centre  of  each  ring  is  erected  a  little  mound,  three  feet 
high,  on  which  are  placed  two  buffalo  skulls,  a  male  and  female, 
and  in  the  centre  is  reared  a  medicine  pole,  supporting  many 
curious  articles  of  mystery  and  superstition,  which  they  suppose 
to  have  the  power  of  guarding  and  protecting  this  sacred 
arrangement.  Here  the  relatives  of  the  dead  resort  to  hold 
converse  with  them,  bringing  a  dish  of  food,  which  is  set  before 

*.  N.  A.  Indians,  vol.  II.  p.  170.        f  Narrative,  vol.  I.,  p.  84. 


114 


ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 


the  skull  at  night,  and  taken  away  in  the  morning.  Under 
each  skull  is  constantly  kept  a  bunch  of  fresh  wild  sage."* 

The  Indians,  it  is  well  known,  often  heaped  a  pile  of  stones 
over  the  graves  of  such  of  their  tribe  as  met  their  death  by 
accident,  or  in  the  manner  of  whose  death  there  was  something 
sufficiently  peculiar  to  excite  their  superstition.  Such  was  the 
case,  in  one  instance,  in  Scoharie  county,  on  the  Cherry  Val 
ley  trail.  But  the  construction  of  mounds,  whether  for  pur 
poses  of  burial  or  as  monuments,  except,  perhaps,  among  some 
of  the  Southern  tribes,  was  far  from  common,  and  cannot  be 
regarded  as  a  custom  of  general  acceptance.  The  few  which 
they  built  were  clearly,  in  most  instances,  the  result  of  caprice, 
or  of  circumstances ;  and  we  are  not  justified  in  ascribing  to 
them  more  than  a  very  trifling  proportion  of  the  numerous 
tumuli  which  dot  over  the  plains  and  valleys  of  the  West,  and 
which  in  their  numbers,  and  uniformity  of  structure  and  con 
tents,  give  conclusive  evidence  that  they  were  constructed  for 
specific  purposes,  in  accordance  with  a  well-recognized  design, 
and  an  established  and  prevailing  custom. 

The  practice  of  depositing  the  property  of  the  dead  in  the 
tomb  with  them,  (almost  universal  among  the  American  Indians.) 
is  of  the  highest  antiquity.  "  In  all  early  ages,"  remarks  an 
erudite  writer,  "  when  the  disengaged  activity  of  man  ever  car 
ries  a  keen  and  military  edge  with  it,  and  his  great  employ 
ment  is  necessarily  war  and  the  chase,  the  weapons  of  both 
would  naturally  be  deposited  with  the  dead."  We  have  a  strik 
ing  passage  of  Scripture,  which  shows  the  custom  to  have. been 
as  general  as  the  spirit  of  ambition  or  the  profession  of  arms. 
"  They  shall  not  lie  down  with  the  mighty  which  are  gone  down 
to  hell  [the  grave]  with  their  weapons  of  war ;  and  they  have 
laid  their  swords  under  their  heads."  Josephus  tells  us,  that 
in  David's  sepulchre  was  deposited  such  a  quantity  of  treasure, 
that  Hyrcanus,  the  Maccabean,  took  3000  talents  out  of  it, 

*  N.  A.  Indians,  Vol.  L,  p.  90. 


MOUNDS,    BONE-HEAPS,    ETC.  115 

about  1300  years  after  David's  death,  to  get  rid  of  Antiochus 
then  besieging  Jerusalem. 

Uniformity  in  the  rites  and  ceremonies  attending  burial 
must  not,  however,  be  regarded  as  necessarily  implying  connec 
tions  or  relations  between  the  nations  exhibiting  them,  for 
most,  if  not  all  of  those  which  may  be  esteemed  of  importance, 
had  their  origin  in  those  primitive  conceptions  and  notions 
which  are  inherent  in  man,  and  are  in  no  wise  derivative.  In 
the  universal  recognition  of  a  future  existence,  may  be  traced 
the  origin  of  the  immolations  and  sacrifices  made  at  the  tombs 
or  on  the  pyres  of  the  dead ;  the  wife  and  the  faithful  servant 
sought  to  accompany  their  lord  in  his  future  life ;  and  a 
numerous  retinue  was  slain  at  the  tomb  of  the  Scythian  King 
and  the  Peruvian  Inca,  that  they  might  appear  in  a  future 
state  with  a  dignity  and  pomp  becoming  their  earthly  great 
ness.  The  Mexican  slew  the  techichi  at  the  grave  of  the  dead, 
that  his  soul  might  have  a  companion  in  its  journey  along  the 
dreary,  terror-infested  pathway,  which,  according  to  their 
superstitions,  intervened  between  earth  and  the  "  blessed  man 
sions  of  the  sun."  So,  too,  was  the  faithful  dog  of  the  Indian 
hunter  placed  beside  him  in  the  grave,  that  in  the  blissful 
"  hunting  grounds  of  the  West,"  he  might  "  bear  him  com 
pany."  The  warlike  Scandinavian  had  his  horse  sacrificed  on 
his  funeral  pyre,  and  his  weapons  buried  with  him,  so  that, 
full-armed  and  mounted,  he  might,  with  becoming  state, 
approach  the  halls  of  Odin. — (Mallet,  Chap,  xii.)  In  the 
almost  universal  belief  that  the  soul  of  the  dead,  for  a  longer 
or  shorter  period,  lingered  around  the  ashes  from  which  it  was 
separated,  we  may  discover  the  reason  why  food  and  offerings 
were  deposited  at  the  grave  ;  why  it  was  carefully  preserved, 
and  why,  at  stated  intervals,  the  surviving  relatives  of  the 
deceased  decked  it  with  flowers  and  performed  games  around 
it.  In  some  of  these  ceremonies  it  was  believed  the  departed 
spirit  silently  participated,  and  with  all,  it  was  supposed  to  be 
pleased  and  gratified. 


CHAPTER    V. 

IMPLEMENTS,    ORNAMENTS,    ETC. 

MOST  of  the  minor  relics  of  art  discovered  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  are  such  as  are  known  to  have  been  common 
among  the  Iroquois  and  other  tribes  which  once  occupied  its 
territories.  The  character  of  these  is  so  well  known  as  to  ren 
der  unnecessary  any  detailed  notice  of  the  various  articles 
obtained  in  the  course  of  the  explorations  here  recorded.  A 
brief  reference  to  the  more  remarkable  specimens  is  therefore 
all  which  will  be  attempted. 

Upon  the  site  of  every  Indian  town,  as  also  within  all  of  the 
ancient  inclosures,  fragments  of  pottery  occur  in  great  abun 
dance.  It  is  rare,  however,  that  any  entire  vessels  are  recov 
ered.  Those  which  have  been  found,  are  for  the  most  part 
gourd-shaped,  with  round  bottoms,  and  having  little  protuber 
ances  near  the  rim,  or  oftener  a  deep  groove,  whereby  they 
could  be  suspended.  A  few  cases  have  been  known  in  which 
this  form  was  modified,  and  the  bottoms  made  sufficiently  flat 
to  sustain  the  vessel  in  an  upright  position.  Fragments  found 
in  Jefferson  county  seem  to  indicate  that  occasionally  the  ves 
sels  were  moulded  in  forms  nearly  square,  but  with  rounded 
angles.  The  usual  size  was  from  one  to  four  quarts  ;  but  some 
must  have  contained  not  less  than  twelve  or  fourteen  quarts. 
In  general  there  was  no  attempt  at  ornament ;  but  sometimes 
the  exteriors  of  the  pots  and  vases  were  elaborately  if  not  taste 
fully  ornamented  with  dots  and  lines,  which  seem  to  have  been 
formed  in  a  very  rude  manner  with  a  pointed  stick  or  sharpened 
bone.  Bones  which  appear  to  have  been  adapted  for  this  pur 
pose  are  often  found.  After  the  commencement  of  European 
intercourse,  kettles  and  vessels  of  iron,  copper,  brass,  and  tin, 


IMPLEMENTS,    ORNAMENTS,    ETC. 


117 


quickly  superseded  the  productions  of  the  primitiye  potter, 
whose  art  at  once  fell  into  disuse.  Pipes  and  various  articles 
of  clay,  which  may  be  denominated  terra  cottas,  continued, 
nevertheless,  to  be  made.  The  pipes  of  native  manufacture 
were  preferred,  as  they  still  are,  to  those  of  European  or  Amer 
ican  production.  After  the  introduction  of  tools,  and  as  soon 
as  the  Indians  became  acquainted  with  foreign  models,  great 
improvement  was  made  in  their  manufacture.  The  following 
examples  will  furnish  very  good  illustrations  of  the  forms  of 
the  Indian  pipe. 


Fio.  14. 

Fig.  14  was  found  within  an  inclosure  in  Jefferson  county, 
Plate  IV.,  No.  4.  It  is  engraved  one  half  the  size  of  the 
original.  It  is  of  fine  red  clay,  smoothly  moulded,  and  two 
serpents,  rudely  imitated,  are  represented  coiling  around  the 
bowl.  Bushels  of  fragments  of  pipes  have  been  found  within 
the  same  inclosure.  Some  appear  to  have  been  worked  in  the 
form  of  the  human  head,  others  in  representations  of  animals, 
and  others  still  in  a  variety  of  regular  forms. 


FIG.  15. 


118 


ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 


Fig.  15   was  found  within  another   in  closure  in   the  same 
county.     It  differs  from  the  first  only  in  respect  of  size. 

Fig.  16  was  found  on  the  site  of  an  old  Seneca  town,  in  the 


FIG.  16. 


town  of  Livonia,  Livingston  county.  It  resembles  the  other  in 
shape,  but  is  of  darker  color,  and  not  so  well  burned.  The 
difference  to  be  observed  between  it  and  the  others  may  be 
ascribed  entirely  to  the  difference  in  the  clay  composing  it. 


Fig.  1 7.  This  is  a  greatly  reduced  representation  of  an  article 
of  stone  found  near  Mount  Morris,  in  Livingston  county,  and 
now  in  the  New  York  State  Cabinet  at  Albany.  It  is  composed 
of  steatite  or  "  soap  stone,"  and  in  shape  corresponds  generally 
with  the  pipes  of  stone  found  in  the  mounds  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley.  If  intended  for  a  pipe,  which  seems  most  likely,  it 
was  never  finished,  as  the  cavity  of  the  bowl  is  merely  indicated. 
One  or  two  pipes  of  stone  of  very  nearly  the  same  shape  have 
been  found  in  this  vicinity,  but  in  point  of  symmetry  or  finish 
they  are  in  no  way  comparable  to  those  of  the  mounds. 


IMPLEMENTS.    ORNAMENTS,    ETC.  119 

Some  pipes  of  precisely  the  same  material,  and  of  identical 
workmanship  with  those  found  in  the  ancient  inclosures,  have 
been  discovered  in  modern  Indian  graves,  in  Cayuga  county. 
One  of  these,  in  the  form  of  a  bird,  and  having  eyes  made  of 
silver  inserted  in  the  head,  is  now  in  possession  of  the  author. 
Various  articles  of  European  or  American  manufacture  were 
found  in  the  same  grave. 

The  most  beautiful  terra  cotla  which  I  found  in  the  State, 
and  which  in  point  of  accuracy  and  delicacy  of  finish  is  unsur 
passed  by  any  similar  article  which  I  have  seen  of  aboriginal 
origin,  is  the  head  of  a  fox.  of  which  Fig.  1 8  is  a  full-size 
engraving.  The  engraving  fails  in  conveying  the  spirit  of  the 


FIG.  IS. 

original,  which  is  composed  of  fine  clay,  slightly  burned.  It 
seems  to  have  been  once  attached  to  a  body,  or  perhaps  to  a 
vessel  of  some  kind.  It  closely  resembles  some  of  the  terra 
cottas  from  the  mounds  of  the  West  and  Southwest.  It  was 
found  upon  the  site  of  an  ancient  inclosure  in  Jefferson  county, 
in  the  town  of  Ellisburgh,  near  the  beautiful  village  of  Pierre- 
pont  Manor. 

Figs.  19  and  20  were  found  upon  the  site  of  an  abandoned 
Seneca  village,  in  the  town  of  Mendon,  Monroe  county.  The 
spot  is  now  known  as  the  "  Ball  Farm,"  and  is  remarkable  for 
the  number  and  variety  of  its  ancient  relics.  Vast  quantities 
of  these  have  been  removed  from  time  to  time.  Some  of  the 


120 


ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 


miniature  representations  of  animals  found  here  are  remark 
able  for  their  accuracy. 


Fio.  19. 

The  stone  ax  or  hatchet 
may  be  found  from  Cape 
Horn  to  Baffin's  Bay.  Spe 
cimens  taken  from  the  inter 
vening  localities  can  be  dis 
tinguished  from  each  other 
only  by  the  difference  of  the 
materials  of  which  they  are 
composed.  I  have  found 
them  in  Nicaragua  precisely 
resembling  those  of  New 
York.  Little,  therefore,  need 
be  said  concerning  them. 
Fig.  21  was  obtained  in  the 
vicinity  of  an  ancient  work 
on  the  Susquehanna  River, 
in  Pennsylvania,  near  the 
New  York  State  line.  It  is 
remarkable  for  its  symme 
try  and  size,  and  also  for 
the  manner  in  which  it  is 
hollowed  upon  the  inner 


FIG.  21. 


IMPLEMENTS,    ORNAMENTS,    ETC. 


121 


side.     This  last-named  feature  is  well  indicated  in  the  engrav 
ing. 

Figs.  22  and  23  present  a  front  and  reverse  view  of  a  very 
fine  stone  ax,  found  in  Livingston  county,  near  Avon  Springs. 


FIG.  22.  FIG.  23. 

The  material  is  of  intense  hardness,  resembling  porphyry.  It 
is.  nevertheless,  worked  with  mathematical  accuracy,  and  highly 
polished.  The  edge  is  very  sharp.  It  is  as  fine  a  specimen 
of  the  Indian  stone  ax  as  ever  fell  under  my  notice. 

Fig.  24  is  of  a  greenish-colored  slate, 
and  resembles  a  kind  of  ornamental  hatch 
et,  made  of  delicate  material,  which  is 
found  at  the  South  and  West.  It  was 
obtained  near  Springport,  Cayuga  coun 
ty.  For  examples  of  similar  articles,  the 
reader  is  referred  to  the  first  volume  of 
the  Smithsonian  Contributions  to  Know 
ledge,  p.  218.  Fl°-  24- 

One  of  the  most  interesting  relics  which  has  yet  been  dis 
covered  in  the  State,  is  an  ax  of  cast  copper,  of  which  Fig.  25 
6 


122  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

is  a  reduced  engraving.  The  original  is  four  inches  long  by 
two  and  a  half  broad  on  the  edge,  and  corresponds  in  shape 
with  some  of  those  of  wrought  native  copper,  which  have  been 
found  in  the  mounds  of  Ohio.  From  the  granulations  of  the 
surface,  it  appears  to  have  been  cast  in  sand.  There  is  no 
evidence  of  its  having  been  used  for  any 
purpose.  Its  history,  beyond  that  it  was 
ploughed  up  somewhere  in  the  vicinity  of 
Auburn,  Cayuga  county,  is  unknown.  No 
opportunity  has  yet  been  afforded  of  analyz 
ing  any  portion,  so  as  to  determine  wheth 
er  it  has  an  intermixture  of  other  metals. 
It  appears  to  be  pure  copper.  An  inspec 
tion  serves  to  satisfy  the  inquirer  that  it  is 
of  aboriginal  origin ;  but  the  questions  when 
and  by  whom  made,  are  beyond  our  ability 
to  answer.  There  is  no  evidence  that  the 
mound-builders  understood  the  smelting  of  metals ;  on  the 
contrary,  there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  they  obtained 
their  entire  supply  in  a  native  state,  and  worked  it  cold.  The 
Portuguese  chronicler  of  Soto's  Expedition  into  Florida,  men 
tions  copper  hatchets,  and  rather  vaguely  refers  to  a  "  smelting 
of  copper,"  in  a  country  which  he  did  not  visit,  far  to  the 
northward,  called  "  Chisca."  The  Mexicans  and  Peruvians 
made  hatchets  of  copper  alloyed  with  tin.  It  would  seem  that 
this  hatchet  was  obtained  from  that  direction,  or  made  by 
some  Indian  artisan  after  intercourse  with  the  whites  had 
instructed  him  in  the  art  of  working  metals.  At  present  it 
is  prudent  to  say  that  the  discovery  of  this  relic  is  an  anom 
alous  fact,  which  investigators  should  only  bear  in  mind,  with 
out  venturing  to  make  it  the  basis  of  deductions  or  inferences 
of  any  kind. 

Fig.  26  is  an  example  of  the  iron  ax  introduced  among 
the  Indians  by  the  French.  Thousands  of  these  are  found 
in  the  western  counties  of  the  State. 


IMPLEMENTS,    ORNAMENTS,    ETC. 


123 


\ 


Figs.  27,  28,  and  29  are  selected  by  the 

author  from  the  collection  of  relics  made 

in  the  progress  of  these  explorations,  from 

their  resemblance  to  relics  of  common  oc 
currence  in  the  mounds  of  the  Mississippi 

Valley.    Fig.  27  is  almost  identical  in  shape 

and  material  with  some  of  the  articles  from 

the  mounds,  described  on  page  237  of  the 
first  volume  of  the  Smith 
sonian  Contributions.  The 
same  may  be  observed  of 
Fig.  28.  The  material  is 
the  green,  variegated  slate,  of  which  so  many 
of  the  above-named  relics  are  composed. 
No.  27  was  found  near  Scottsville,  Wheat- 
land  township,  Monroe  county ;  and  No.  28, 
near  Springport,  Cayuga  county.  Near  this 


FIG.  26. 


FIG.  28 


Fio.  27. 


124 


ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 


place,  also,  was  found  the  disk,  Fig.  29.  It  is  of  green  slate, 
and  corresponds  entirely  with  those  described  on 
page  221  of  the  same  volume  with  the  preceding. 


FIG.  29. 

Fig.  30  is  the  point  of  a  fish-spear,  made  of  the 
ulna  of  the  deer  ;  found  in  Livingston  county. 
Figs.  31  and  32  are  of  the 
same  material,  and  were  used 
as  bodkins,  or  for  working 
clay ;  found  in  Jefferson 
county. 


FIG.  30. 


FIG.  32. 


FIG.  31. 


IMPLEMENTS,    ORNAMENTS,    ETC.  125 

Besides  these  relics,  quantities  of  beads  of  stone,  bone,  and 
shell,  ornaments  of  many  kinds  and  of  various  materials,  as  also 
implements  of  aboriginal,  or  European,  or  American  fabric,  are 
found  all  over  the  State,  but  in  more  abundance  in  the  western 
counties.  They  are  not  of  sufficient  importance  to  merit  a  de 
tailed  notice,  and  are  chiefly  interesting  as  relics  of  a  race  fast 
disappearing,  and  whose  existence  will  soon  be  known  to  his 
tory  alone.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that,  however  insignificant  they 
may  seem,  they  may  be  carefully  preserved  and  treasured  for 
public  inspection,  in  places  or  institutions  designated  for  the 
purpose.* 

In  the  preceding  pages,  several  places  have  been  mentioned, 
where  it  appears  that  various  branches  of  aboriginal  art  were 
specially  carried  on.  Such  was  the  case  at  the  point  opposite 
Tonawanda  island,  on  the  banks  of  the  Niagara  River,  where 

*  I  am  glad  to  have  it  in  my  power  to  say,  that  at  the  urgent  sugges 
tion  of  Mr.  L.  H.  Morgan,  of  Rochester,  sustained  by  the  recommenda 
tions  of  other  citizens  of  the  State,  the  Regents  of  the  University  of 
New  York  have  not  only  determined  to  establish  a  "Historical  and 
Antiquarian  Collection,"  in  connection  with  the  State  Cabinet  of  Natural 
History,  but  have  already  made  a  very  creditable  beginning.  "But 
few  remains  of  the  skill  and  industry  of  our  predecessors,"  says  Mr. 
Morgan,  in  his  letters  to  the  Regents,  "  have  come  down  to  us  to  illus 
trate  the  era  of  Indian  occupation.  The  low  state  of  the  arts  which 
existed  among  them,  detracts  from  the  interest  with  which  their  relics 
would  otherwise  be  invested.  Such  specimens  of  their  arts  as  we  discov 
er  are  rude  to  the  last  degree,  and  bespeak  a  social  condition  of  extreme 
simplicity.  But  as  illustrations  of  the  state  of  the  aborigines,  and  as 
furnishing  the  unwritten  history  of  their  social  existence,  however 
inconsiderable  they  may  be  in  every  ordinary  sense,  they  should  be 
sought  out  and  preserved.  *  *  *  The  utmost  efforts  of  a  single 
person  would  accumulate  but  a  small  cabinet.  Numerous  individuals 
in  the  State  have,  however,  small  collections,  which  singly  have  little 
interest,  but  which,  if  brought  together,  would  become  valuable,  and 
there  is  every  reason  to  believe  that  most  of  these  would  be  cheerfully 
surrendered  to  a  general  cabinet."  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  every  citizen 
of  the  State  who  may  be  possessed  of  relics  of  any  kind,  will  take  means 
to  place  them  in  the  State  Collection. 


12(5  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

the  great  quantities  of  flint  chippings  show  there  was  once  a 
kind  of  manufactory  of  arrow-heads.  These  seem  to  have  been 
made  of  the  chert,  so  common  among  the  limestone  formations 
of  that  region.  At  various  places  at  the  "West,  are  found  the 
quarries  where  the  ancient  inhabitants  obtained  the  material 
for  the  manufacture  of  their  arrow  and  spear-points.  Upon  the 
line  of  the  calcareo-silicious  deposit,  extending  through  Licking 
and  Muskingum  counties  in  Ohio,  constituting  what  is  called 
"Flint  Ridge,"  are  numerous  traces  of  Indian  operations.  The 
material  found  here  is  admirably  adapted  for  the  purposes  de 
sired,  and  arrow-heads  manufactured  from  it  are  to  be  found 
in  Kentucky,  Indiana,  Illinois  and  Michigan.  "  The  compact 
silicious  material  of  which  this  ridge  is  made  up,"  says  Dr  Hil- 
dreth  in  the  Geological  Report  of  Ohio,  "seems  to  have 
attracted  the  notice  of  the  aborigines,  who  have  manufactured 
it  largely  into  arrow  and  spear-heads,  if  we  may  be  allowed  to 
judge  from  the  numerous  circular  excavations  which  have  been 
made  in  mining  the  rock,  and  the  piles  of  chipped  quartz  lying 
on  the  surface.  How  extensively  it  has  been  worked  for  these 
purposes,  may  be  imagined  from  the  countless  number  of  the  pits; 
experience  having  taught  them  that  the  rock  recently  dug  from 
the  earth,  could  be  split  with  more  freedom  than  that  which 
had  lain  exposed  to  the  weather.  These  excavations  are  found 
the  whole  length  of  the  outcrop,  from  Jackson  to  Muskingum, 
but  more  abundantly  at  "  Flint  Ridge,"  where  it  is  most  com 
pact  and  diversified  with  rich  colors.  To  the  present  inhabit 
ants  it  is  valuable  as  furnishing  a  fine  article  for  mill-stones." 

Mr.  J.  W.  Foster,  in  his  report,  alludes  to  the  same  locality 
as  follows : 

"  The  stone  is  fine  grained  and  compact.  The  aborigines 
used  it  for  spear  and  arrow-heads.  They  seem  to  have  been 
aware  that  it  works  more  freely  when  freshly  dug  from  the  earth, 
than  after  exposure  to  the  air.  They  have  therefore  stripped 
off  the  earth  to  the  depth  of  eight  or  ten  feet.  Excavations  of 


IMPLEMENTS,    ORNAMENTS,    ETC. 


127 


this  kind,  occupying  acres  in  extent,  occur  three  miles  west  of 
H.  Lear's,  on  the  '  Flint  Ridge '  road." 

This  locality  has  a  remarkable  parallel  in  what  are  called 
the  "  Pen  Pits,"  in  South  Wiltshire,  England.  These  cover 
an  area  of  several  hundred  acres,  and  are  supposed  to  have  been 
dug  in  order  to  procure  a  variety  of  hard  green-stone,  (a  quarry 
of  which  underlies  the  plain,)  for  the  construction  of  the  ancient 
Celtic  querns  or  mill-stones,  fragments  of  which,  partially  worked, 
are  found  scattered  about.* 

Mr.  Featherstonhaugh  describes  some  ancient  quarries  of  the 
mineral,  which  he  visited,  about  three  miles  from  the  Hot 
Springs  of  Arkansas. 

"  Ascending  a  very  lofty  hill,  composed  entirely  of  this  min 
eral,  [novaculite  ?]  we  found  several  large  pits,  resembling  in 
verted  cones,  some  of  which  were  from  twenty  to  thirty  feet 
deep  and  as  many  in  diameter,  the  insides  and  bottoms  of  which 
were  covered  with  chips  of  this  beautiful  mineral,  some  white, 
some  carmine,  and  many  quite  opalescent.  In  and  near  these 
pits,  round  and  long  pieces  of  hard  green-stone — which  I  had 
seen  in  a  place  about  eighteen  miles  distant — -were  scattered 
about,  but  none  of  these  too  large  for  the  hand.  These  were 
undoubtedly  the  quarries  from  whence  the  Indians  obtained 
the  materials  for  making  their  arrow-heads  and  spears.  The 
pieces  of  hard  green-stone  were  the  tools  which  the  Indians 
worked  with,  and  the  rough  mineral,  when  procured,  was  taken 
to  their  villages  to  be  manufactured."! 

Edwin  James,  the  Naturalist  of  Long's  expedition,  mentions 
an  island  in  the  Ohio,  23  miles  below  the  rapids,  called  "  Flint 
Island,"  from  the  great  quantities  of  fragments  of  that  material 
found  upon  it.  He  supposes  it  to  have  been  a  particular  resort 


*  Hist.  Anct.  Wiltshire,  vol.  I.,  p.  35. 
f  Travels  in  America,  p.  111. 


128  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

for  the  manufacture  of  spear  and  arrow-heads,  by  the  abori 
gines.* 

The  manufacture  of  pottery  is  the  simplest  of  arts,  and  its 
practice  in  different  localities,  affords  no  evidence  whatever  of 
derivative  character.  It  would  naturally  be  suggested  by  the 
impressions  made  in  the  moist  clay  or  soil,  by  the  hands  or  feet, 
and  would  first  be  practiced  where  the  proper  material  most 
abounds,  as  in  the  valleys  of  great  rivers.  This  suggestion  is 
corroborated,  by  our  finding  the  earliest  fictile  establishments 
in  the  neighborhood  of  rivers,  more  or  less  subject  to  periodical 
inundation;  the  Babylonians,  the  Egyptians  and  the  Etrurians 
became  potters  from  their  vicinity  to  the  Euphrates,  the  Nile 
and  the  rivers  of  Northern  Italy.  In  their  shape,  the  vessels  of 
the  primitive  manufacturer  would  be  most  apt  to  take  the  form 
of  the  natural  models  he  might  observe  around  him.  The  type 
of  the  earliest  and  rudest  productions,  was  the  shell  of  a  nut 
or  the  rind  of  some  of  the  pumpkin  tribe ;  and  this  to  such  an 
extent,  that  those  acquainted  with  the  vegetable  productions  of 
different  countries,  are  generally  able,  at  a  glance,  to  identify 
their  productions  in  pottery.  Those  who  have  examined  the  col 
lection  in  the  Museum  of  Severs,  will  perceive  that  the  distinc 
tive  characters  of  Asia,  Africa  and  America,  are  marked  on  the 
potteries  of  their  less-civilized  inhabitants.  The  second  type — 
one  that  marks  considerable  progress — is  the  female  bust,  with 
sometimes  an  attempt  to  preserve  its  character  as  symbolic  of 


*  Narrative,  vol.  L,  p.  30. 

"  A  hunter  or  warrior,  it  is  true,  expected  to  make  his  own  arms  or 
implements,  yet  the  manufacture  of  flint  and  hornstone  into  darts,  and 
spears,  and  arrow-heads,  demanded  too  much  skill  and  mechanical  dex 
terity,  for  the  generality  of  the  Indians  to  succeed  in.  According  to  the 
Chippeway  tradition,  before  the  introduction  of  firearms,  there  was  a 
class  of  men  among  the  northern  tribes  who  were  called  Makers  of  Ar 
row-heads.  They  selected  proper  stones,  and  devoted  themselves  to 
this  art,  taking  in  exchange  for  their  manufactures,  the  skins  and  flesh 
of  animals."— Schooler  aft. 


IMPLEMENTS,    ORNAMENTS,    ETC.  129 

fecundity  and  abundance.  This  graceful  type  was  carried  to  a 
voluptuous  excess  by  the  Greeks.  Other  subordinate  types  of 
form,  suggested  by  eggs,  shells,  etc.,  might  be  noticed.  Suffi 
cient  has  been  said,  however,  to  enforce  the  remark  made  at 
the  commencement  of  this  paragraph,  and  to  show  how  unsafe 
would  be  the  attempt  to  deduce  dependences  or  connections, 
upon  so  narrow  a  basis  as  simple  coincidences  in  the  potteries 
of  detached  nations. 

It  may  be  remarked,  incidentally,  that  the  degree  of  skill 
exhibited  in  the  pottery  from  the  mounds  of  the  West,  could 
only  be  the  result  of  long  practice.  The  hunter  could  not  have 
laid  aside  the  bow,  and  produced  works  of  so  much  symmetry 
and  so  excellent  finish.  We  are  justified,  therefore,  in  the  be 
lief,  that  the  manufacture,  in  this  department,  devolved  upon  a 
class  of  professional  potters,  or,  at  any  rate,  that  it  was  in  the 
hands  of  persons,  whose  experience  extended  beyond  the  simple 
supplying  of  their  individual  wants  with  works  of  this  descrip 
tion. 

In  all  the  various  specimens  of  aboriginal  pottery  which  have 
fallen  under  notice,  we  find  no  evidence  of  the  use  of  the  pot 
ters'  wheel.  Notwithstanding  the  regularity  of  figure  and  uni 
formity  of  thickness  which  many  of  the  specimens  exhibit,  it  is 
evident  that  they  were  all  moulded  by  hands. 

In  the  immediate  vicinity  of  some  of  the  salt  springs,  quan 
tities  of  broken  pottery  are  often  found.  This  feature  has  been 
particularly  observed  near  the  Illinois,  Missouri,  and  Ohio 
Salines.  Breckenridge  states,  that,  in  clearing  out  the  Saline 
below  St.  Grenevieve, in  Missouri,  some  years  ago,  "wagon-loads 
of  earthenware,  some  fragments  bespeaking  vessels  as  large  as 
a  barrel,"  were  found.*  These  remains  have  generally  been 
regarded  as  pertaining  to  the  race  of  the  mounds,  on  the 
assumption  that  the  more  recent  tribes  were  unacquainted  with 
the  art  of  manufacturing  salt,  if  they  were  not  entirely  ignorant 

6* 

*  Views  of  Louisiana,  p.  186. 


130  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

of  its  uses.  This  is  a  mistake.  We  have  direct  evidence  that, 
at  the  very  earliest  periods  of  European  intercourse,  they  were 
accustomed  to  manufacture  that  article.  It  is  specially  referred 
to,  and  the  process  described  by  the  unknown  historian  of  De 
Soto's  expedition.*  The  Salines  in  Jackson  county,  Ohio, 
(23  miles  from  Chillicothe,)  exhibit  proofs  of  having  been 
worked,  not  only  in  the  presence  of  broken  pottery,  but  by 
excavations  in  the  rock,  in  which  the  brine  was  collected. 
These  excavations,  resembling  "pot  holes,"  are  specially 
remarkable  at  the  ancient  and  noted  "  Scioto  Saline,"  in  the 
county  above-named.  Dr.  Hildreth  describes  them  as  follows. 
"  When  the  white  hunters  and  traders  came  to  this  country, 
it  was  visited  by  thousands  of  buffalo,  deer,  bears,  and  nearly  all 
the  wild  animals  of  the  forest,  who  found  the  saline  waters 
agreeable  to  their  tastes  or  needful  for  their  health.  So  nu 
merous  and  so  constant  were  the  animal  visitors  of  these  springs, 
that,  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  the  country  adjacent  was 
the  most  valuable  and  profitable  hunting  ground  which  the 
Indians  possessed.  They  were  also  in  the  habit  of  making 
salt  here  from  very  remote  times,  as  has  been  ascertained  from 
several  of  their  white  captives,  who  had  visited  them  in  company 
with  the  Indians.  The  first  attempt  at  its  manufacture  by  the 
whites,  was  after  the  close  of  the  Indian  war,  in  the  year  1797. 
At  that  time,  and  for  several  years  after,  the  stumps  of  small 
trees  cut  by  the  squaws,  and  the  ashes,  etc.,  of  their  fires,  where 
the  salt  water  had  been  boiled,  were  plainly  to  be  seen.  The 
Indian  women,  upon  whom  all  the  servile  employments  fell, 
collected  the  salt  water  by  cutting  holes  in  the  soft  sandstone 
in  the  bed  of  the  creek,  in  the  summer  and  autumn  when  the 
water  was  low.  These  were  generally  not  more  than  a  foot  or 
two  deep,  and  the  same  in  width.  Into  these  rude  cavities  the 
salt  water  slowly  collected,  and  was  afterwards  dipped  out  and 
boiled  into  salt  in  their  vessels.  The  hunters  and  first  salt 

*  Hakluyt's  Trans.,  pp.  736,  749,  ubi  supra. 


IMPLEMENTS,    ORNAMENTS,    ETC.  131 

makers  pursued  the  same  course,  only  they  sunk  their  excava 
tions  to  the  depth  of  six  or  eight  feet,  and  finally  to  the  depth 
of  twenty  feet  into  the  rock ."* 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  Salines  possessed  peculiar  attrac 
tions  for  the  modern  tribes.  The  abundance  of  their  relics, 
therefore,  in  such  localities  is  a  matter  of  no  surprise.! 


*  First  Annual  Report  of  Geolog.  Surv.  of  Ohio,  p.  57. 

•f  The  subjoined  passages,  from  various  authors,  relating  to  the  man 
ufacture  of  pottery  by  the  existing  Indians,  no  doubt  indicate,  with 
great  exactness,  the  modes  adopted  by  the  ancient  tribes. 

"  The  earthenware  is  formed  by  the  women,  who  not  only  form  the 
vessel,  but  dig  and  mix  the  clay.  In  this  they  are  tolerable  artists ; 
they  make  kettles  of  an  extraordinary  size,  pitchers  with  a  small  open 
ing,  gallon  bottles  with  long  necks,  pots  or  pitchers,  for  their  bear-oil, 
which  will  hold  forty  pints — lastly,  large  and  small  plates  in  the  French 
fashion."— Du  Pratz1  Hist,  of  Louis.,  p.  360. 

"  In  manufacturing  their  pottery  for  cooking  and  domestic  purposes, 
they  collect  tough  clay,  beat  it  into  powder,  temper  it  with  water,  and 
then  spread  it  over  blocks  of  wood,  which  are  formed  into  shapes  to  suit 
their  convenience  or  fancy.  When  sufficiently  dried,  they  are  removed 
from  the  moulds,  placed  in  proper  situations  and  burned  to  a  hardness 
suitable  to  the  intended  uses.  Another  method  practiced  by  them,  is 
to  coat  the  inner  surface  of  baskets  of  willow  or  rushes  with  clay  to  any 
required  thickness,  and  when  dry  to  burn  them  as  above  described.  In 
this  way  they  construct  large,  handsome,  and  tolerably  durable  ware ; 
though,  latterly,  with  such  tribes  as  had  much  intercourse  with  the 
whites,  it  is  not  much  used,  because  of  the  substitution  of  metal  ware 
in  their  stead. 

"  When  the  vessels  are  large,  as  in  the  case  for  the  manufacture  of 
sugar,  they  are  suspended  by  grape-vines,  which,  when  exposed  to  the 
fire,  are  constantly  kept  covered  with  moist  clay.  Sometimes  the  rims 
are  made  strong,  and  project  a  little  inwardly,  quite  round  the  vessels, 
so  as  to  admit  of  their  being  sustained  by  flattened  pieces  of  wood,  slid 
underneath  these  projections,  and  extending  across  the  centres." — Hun 
ter's  Memoirs  of  a  Captivity  among  the  Indians,  p.  289. 

"  They  make  earthen  pots  of  very  different  sizes  so  as  to  contain 
from  two  to  ten  gallons ;  large  pitchers  to  carry  water,  bowls,  dishes, 
platters,  basins,  and  a  prodigious  number  of  other  vessels  of  such  anti 
quated  forms  as  would  be  tedious  to  describe,  and  impossible  to  name. 


132  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

Great  numbers  of  beads,  some  of  late  and  others  of  ancient 
origin,  are  scattered  all  over  the  sites  of  Indian  occupancy  in 
New  York.  These  ornaments  have  predominated  in  every  age, 
and  among  every  people,  and  still  maintain  their  popularity 
in  the  most  refined  communities — one  of  the  relics  of  the  rude 
state  from  which  all  people  have,  at  some  period,  advanced. 
The  American  nations,  the  hunter  tribes  no  less  than  the  con 
solidated  communities  of  the  centre  of  the  continent,  were  pro 
fuse  in  their  use  of  this  species  of  ornament.  The  poor  but 
intrepid  hunter  of  the  bleak  Narraganset  was  as  proud  of  his 
rude  "  braveries  "  of  shell,  patiently  rubbed  into  the  required 
shape  on  the  rocks,  as  the  regal  Aztec  with  his  necklace  of 
pearls,  relieved  with  gold  and  gems.  The  unknown  builders 
of  Palenque  and  the  other  Palmyras  of  the  tangled  evergreen 
forests  of  the  south,  have  left  engraven  upon  their  sculptured 
edifices  and  elaborate  statues,  the  evidence  of  the  importance 
assigned  to  this  class  of  ornaments  in  the  list  of  preserved 
decorations  of  their  day.  So,  too,  have  the  mound -builders 

Their  method  of  glazing  them  is,  they  place  them  over  a  large  fire  of 
smoky  pitch  pine,  which  makes  them  smooth,  black,  and  firm.  Their 
lands  abound  in  proper  clay  for  that  use." — Adair,  p.  424. 

"  Their  pots  and  boilers  are  made  of  clay,  mixed  with  pounded  sea- 
shells,  and  burned  so  hard  that  they  are  black  throughout."— Loskiel, 
p.  54. 

"  The  earthen  dishes  are  made  by  the  Mandan  women  in  great  quan 
tities,  and  modeled  in  a  thousand  forms  and  tastes.  They  are  made 
from  a  tough,  black  clay,  and  baked  in  kilns  which  are  made  for  the 
purpose,  and  are  nearly  equal  in  hardness  to  our  own  manufacture  of 
pottery,  though  they  have  not  yet  got  the  art  of  glazing.  They  make 
them  so  strong  and  serviceable,  however,  that  they  hang  them  over  the 
fire  as  we  do  our  iron  kettles,  and  boil  their  meat  in  them  with  perfect 
success.  I  have  seen  some  few  specimens  of  such  manufacture  dug  up 
from  mounds  and  tombs  in  the  southern  and  middle  states,  which  were 
looked  upon  as  a  great  wonder ;  when  here,  this  novelty  is  at  once  done 
away  with,  and  the  whole  mystery;  where  women  can  be  seen  handling 
them  by  hundreds,  moulding  them  in  fanciful  forms,  and  passing  them 
through  the  kilns."— Coin's  N.  A.  Indians,  vol.  I.,  p.  116. 


IMPLEMENTS,    ORNAMENTS,    ETC.  133 

left  us  beside  the  bones  of  their  dead,  and  upon  the  ancient 
altars  of  their  religion,  the  evidence  that  they  fully  shared  the 
general  taste. 

One  form  of  bead,  the  wampum,  or  seawant,  peak,or  roanok 
of  the  North  American  Indians,  not  only  constituted  the  most 
common  ornament  of  their  persons,  but  subserved  the  purposes 
of  a  currency,  and  figured  in  their  operations  of  war  and  peace. 
Like  the  quippos  of  Peru,  the  wampum  was  sometimes  used  to 
commemorate  or  record  events,  and  was  also  regarded  as  sacred. 
"  The  strings  and  belts  of  wampum,"  says  Loskiel, "  are  also  docu 
ments  by  which  the  Indians  remember  the  chief  articles  of 
treaties  made  either  between  themselves  or  the  white  people. 
They  refer  to  them  as  public  records,  carefully  preserving  them 
for  that  purpose.  At  certain  seasons  they  meet  to  study  their 
meaning,  and  to  renew  the  ideas  of  which  they  were  an  em 
blem  and  confirmation."  It  is  said  that  the  Delawares  once 
kept  an  account  of  time  by  putting  a  bead  of  wampum  every 
year  upon  a  belt  kept  for  that  purpose.  In  the  records,  beads 
of  a  certain  color  were  assigned  a  particular  meaning,  and  their 
arrangement  and  the  figures  which  their  combination  furnished, 
were  the  mnemonic  symbols  by  which  circumstances  and  events 
were  recalled.  Red  was  the  emblem  of  war,  white  of  peace. 
Thus  if  it  were  designed  to  give  warning  of  an  approaching 
evil,  or  to  send  an  earnest  remonstrance,  a  black  belt  was  deliv 
ered  ;  if  to  declare  war,  a  red  belt  wrought  with  the  figure  of 
a  hatchet  in  white,  etc. — (Smith's  Hist,  of  New  York.  Char- 
levoix1  Canada,  vol.  I.,  p.  320.)  In  treaties,  the  exchange  of  a 
wampum  belt  was  equivalent  to  a  ratification.  A  certain  num 
ber  of  fathoms  was  a  tribute  to  powerful  neighbors.  In  its  use 
as  a  currency,  separate  values  were  assigned  to  the  different 
colors ;  the  black  was  double  the  value  of  the  white.  Its  man 
ufacture  was  open  to  all  who  chose  to  engage  in  it,  and 
its  use  so  general,  that  the  early  colonists  in  New  England, 
New  York,  and  Virginia,  adopted  it  in  their  exchanges.  The 
revenues  of  the  colonies  were  sometimes  paid  in  it,  and 


134  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

appropriations  of  a  certain  amount  of  wampoag  are  to  be  found 
in  the  early  Legislative  records  of  Connecticut,  and  probably 
of  other  States.  Among  the  Dutch  of  New  Netherlands,  six 
white  beads  of  wampum,  or  three  brown  or  black  beads,  were 
equivalent  to  a  stiver,  and  received  as  such.* 

These  beads  were  made  of  the  compact  portions  of  shells. 
If  of  marine  shells  the  columella  alone  was  used.  Says  Van 
der  Donk,  in  his  history  of  New  Netherlands :  "  The  wampum 
is  made  of  conch-shells,  which  are  taken  from  the  sea,  or  which 
are  cast  ashore  twice  a  year.  They  strike  off  the  thin  portions 
of  these  shells,  and  preserve  the  pillars  or  standards,  which 
they  grind  even  and  smooth,  and  reduce  the  same  to  uniform 
thickness,  and  drill  a  hole  through  every  piece,  and  string  the 
same  on  strings,  which  they  afterward  sell.  This  is  the  only 
article  of  moneyed  medium  among  the  natives,  with  which  any 
traffic  can  be  driven ;  and  it  is  also  common  with  us  in  pur 
chasing  necessaries  and  carrying  on  our  trade ;  many  thousand 

*  Mr.  Schoolcraft,  in  his  "  Notes  on  the  Iroquois,"  suggests  an  anti 
quarian  nomenclature,  the  principle  of  which  he  applies  to  a  limited 
extent,  in  the  classification  of  certain  relics,  chiefly  ornamental.  The 
radical  names  are  introduced  from  the  Indian  vocabulary,  qualified  by 
expletives  drawn  either  from  the  same  source  or  the  English — constitut 
ing  terms  "  which  shall,  as  far  as  practicable,  be  descriptive  in  their  cha 
racter."  The  design  is  stated  to  be,  "to  render  antiquarian  examination 
exact,  and  facilitate  comparison,"  so  as  to  relieve  archaeological  inquiry 
from  much  of  the  vagueness  which  attends  it.  The  object  is  certainly 
a  desirable  one ;  but  whether  it  could  be  attained  in  the  manner  proposed 
is,  at  least,  doubtful.  In  the  very  limited  application  of  the  system 
attempted  by  Mr.  Schoolcraft,  out  of  nine  radical  divisions  or  classes, 
we  have  no  less  than  seven,  each  embracing  several  subdivisions  or  vari 
eties,  which  comprise  in  their  whole  range  only  such  articles  as  might 
be  defined  with  sufficient  exactness,  as  beads  and  pendants.  Whether 
archaeological  science  would  be  greatly  advanced  by  the  substitution  of 
"Meddeka  Dental "  for  perforated  bear's  tooth,  or  "  Attajeguna  Deoseowa  " 
for  Stone  mortar,  is  a  question  which  the  student  of  natural  history, 
floundering  in  the  sea  of  modern  scientific  nomenclature,  is  best  able  to 


IMPLEMENTS,    ORNAMENTS,    ETC.  135 

strings  are  exchanged  every  year  for  peltries  near  the  sea-shore, 
where  the  wampum  is  only  made,  and  where  the  peltries  are 
brought  for  sale."  After  the  introduction  of  glass  and  enamel 
beads  by  the  traders,  the  wampum  deteriorated  in  value,  and  be 
came  quite  restricted  in  its  use  and  manufacture.  Catlin  men 
tions,  as  a  singular  fact,  that  the  far  west  Indians  make  no  use 
of  it,  while  along  the  frontier,  below  the  Missouri  Sioux,  the 
different  tribes  are  found  loaded  down  and  beautifully  orna 
mented  with  it.  With  the  introduction  of  the  traders'  tinselry, 
the  wampum  has  lost  its  significance,  and  it  is  believed  is  no 
longer  used  for  records,  or  in  the  transmission  of  messages  of 
peace  or  defiance. 

Some  of  the  beads  found  in  the  mounds,  bear  a  close  resem 
blance  to  those  in  use  among  the  Southern  Indians.  Adair 
describes  large  cylindrical  beads,  "  made  of  the  conch-shell, 
about  the  length  and  thickness  of  a  man's  forefinger,"  which 
bore  a  near  resemblance  to  ivory,  and  were  attached  to  the 
crown  of  the  head,  and  "  so  highly  valued,  that  four  deer-skins 
was  the  price  paid  for  them."*  The  same  author  adds  :  "  Be 
fore  we  supplied  them  with  our  European  beads,  they  had  great 
quantities  of  wampum,  made  out  of  the  conch-shell,  by  rubbing 
on  the  hard  stones,  and  so  they  form  them  according  to  their 
liking.  These  are  bought  and  sold  for  a  stated  current  rate, 
without  variation  for  time  or  circumstances." 

The  late  Prof.  Troost,  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  found  similar  beads 
in  the  so-called  "pigmy graves"  in  that  vicinity;  he  also  found 
beads  composed  of  the  shells  of  the  marginella,  which,  like  many 
of  those  found  in  Ohio,  were  ground  in  such  a  manner  that  a 
string  could  pass  through  their  mouth  and  perforated  back. 
He  observes :  "  Other  beads  were  made  of  the  columella  of  the 

*  Ornaments,  doubtless  very  similar  to  these,  and  called  Runtees,  were 
common  among  the  Virginia  Indians.  Beverly  describes  these  in  a 
summary  way  as  "  made  of  shell,  as  the  Peak  is,  only  the  shape  is  flat 
and  round  like  a  cheese,  and  they  are  drilleU  edgeways."  Hist.  Va.  p. 
145. 


136  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

strombus  gigas :  I  am  positive  it  was  of  that  part  of  this  shell, 
as  I  have  found  these  beads  in  all  stages  of  manufacture  from 
commencement  to  completion.  These  columella  are  often  found 
on  the  shores  of  the  West  Indies ;  when  the  animal  of  these 
shells  is  dead,  the  shell  is  constantly  rolled  and  worn  down  by 
the  waves  on  the  beach,  so  that  the  outside  and  interior  whorls 
soon  disappear,  and  nothing  but  the  solid  columella  remains. 
Such  columella  I  have  found  in  a  partially  decomposed  state  in 
the  graves — I- have  found  these  artificially  worn  down  to  a 
uniform  thickness,  and  perforated  through  the  centre — I  have 
found  them  cut  in  pieces  of  the  size  of  the  beads,  and  I  have 
found  the  beads  perfect."  Professor  Troost  remarks  further 
that  "  these  are  tropical  shells,  and  could  not,  therefore,  have 
been  obtained  from  the  North,  nor  have  been  found  in  the  in 
terior  of  the  country ;  they  could  not  have  been  bought  of  travel 
ing  pedlers,  because  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  such  rude  people 
knew  anything  of  commerce ;  the  aborigines  must,  consequently, 
themselves  have  brought  them  from  those  southern  regions — 
not  during  their  hunting  excursions,  for  we  are  about  2000 
miles  from  the  places  where  they  are  found."  Prof  Troost 
probably  under-estimates  the  extent  of  exchange  and  transfer 
among  even  very  rude  tribes ;  supposing,  however,  the  race 
occupying  the  stone  graves,  to  be  the  same  which  built  the 
mounds,  (as  certain  coincidences  in  the  character  of  their  re 
mains  would  seem  to  indicate,)  and  his  conclusion  is  sustained 
by  developments  from  the  mounds  on  the  Ohio,  which  are  irre 
sistible  in  their  tendency — establishing  a  migration  from  the 
South,  or  an  alternative  altogether  opposed  to  a  natural  or  prob 
able  course  of  events.  Mr.  T.  Conrad  (American  Journal  of 
Science  and  Arts,  New  Series,  vol.  II.,  p.  41)  mentions  the 
strombus  gigas  as  occurring  on  the  coast  of  Florida,  but  not 
above  the  latitude  of  Tampa  Bay. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

OBSERVATIONS    ON    THE    PROBABLE    ORIGIN    OP    THE    ABORIGINAL 
MONUMENTS    OF   NEW    YORK. 

BY  whom  were  the  aboriginal  monuments  of  Western  New 
York  erected,  and  to  what  era  may  they  be  ascribed  ?  The 
consideration  of  these  questions  has  given  rise  to  a  vast  amount 
of  speculation,  generally  not  of  the  most  philosophical,  nor  yet 
of  the  most  profitable  kind.  If  the  results  arrived  at  have 
been  erroneous,  unsatisfactory,  or  extravagant,  it  may  be  as 
cribed  to  the  circumstance  that  the  facts  heretofore  collected 
have  been  too  few  in  number  and  too  poorly  authenticated  to 
admit  of  correct  conclusions,  not  less  than  to  the  influence  of 
preconceived  notions,  and  to  that  constant  leaning  toward  the 
marvelous,  which  is  a  radical  defect  of  many  minds.  Rigid 
criticism  is  especially  indispensable  in  archaeological  investiga 
tions  ;  yet  there  is  no  department  of  human  research  in  which 
so  wide  a  range  has  been  given  to  conjecture.  Men  seem  to 
have  indulged  the  belief  that  here  nothing  is  fixed,  nothing 
certain,  and  have  turned  aside  into  this  field  as  one  where  the 
severer  rules  which  elsewhere  regulate  philosophical  research 
are  not  enforced,  and  where  every  species  of  extravagance  may 
be  indulged  in  with  impunity.  I  might  adduce  numberless 
illustrations  of  this  remark.  The  Indian  who  wrought  the 
rude  outlines  upon  the  rock  at  Dighton,  little  dreamed  that  his 
work  would  ultimately  come  to  be  regarded  as  affording  indu 
bitable  evidence  of  Hebrew,  Phoenician,  and  Scandinavian 
adventure  and  colonization  in  America ;  and  the  builders  of 
the  rude  defences  of  Western  New  York,  as  little  suspected 
that  Celt  and  Tartar,  and  even  the  apocryphal  Madoc  with 


138 


ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 


his  "  ten  ships,"  would,  in  this  the  nineteenth  century  of  our 
faith,  be  vigorously  invoked  to  yield  paternity  to  their  labors  ! 

The  probable  purposes  to  which  these  works  were  applied 
are,  perhaps,  sufficiently  evident  from  what  has  already  been 
presented.  Their  positions,  general  close  proximity  to  water, 
and  other  circumstances  not  less  conclusive,  imply  a  defensive 
origin.  The  unequivocal  traces  of  long  occupancy  found  within 
many  of  them,  would  further  imply  that  they  were  fortified 
towns  and  villages,  and  were  permanently  occupied.  Some  of 
the  smaller  ones,  on  the  other  hand,  seem  rather  designed  for 
temporary  protection — the  citadels  in  which  the  builders 
sought  safety  for  their  old  men,  women,  and  children,  in  case 
of  alarm  or  attack. 

In  respect  to  date  nothing  positive  can  be  affirmed.  Many 
of  them  are  now  covered  with  heavy  forests ;  a  circumstance 
upon  which  too  much  importance  has  been  laid,  and  which  in 
itself  may  not  necessarily  be  regarded  as  indicative  of  great 
age,  for  we  may  plausibly  suppose  that  it  was  not  essential  to 
the  purposes  of  the  builders  that  the  forests  should  be 
removed.  Still  I  have  seen  trees  from  one  to  three  feet  in 
diameter  standing  upon  the  embankments  and  in  the  trenches ; 
which  would  certainly  carry  back  the  date  of  their  construction 
several  hundred  years,  perhaps  beyond  the  period  of  the  dis 
covery  in  the  fifteenth  century.  There  is  nothing,  however,  in 
this  circumstance,  nor  in  any  other  bearing  upon  the  subject, 
which  would  necessarily  imply  that  they  were  built  by  tribes 
anterior  to  those  found  in  occupation  of  the  country  by  the 
whites.  And  this  brings  us  at  once  to  the  most  interesting 
point  of  our  inquiry,  viz. :  By  whom  were  these  works  erected  ? 

I  have  already  mentioned  that  within  them  are  found  many 
relics  of  art  and  many  traces  of  occupancy.  These,  I  had 
ample  opportunities  of  ascertaining  in  the  course  of  my  inves 
tigations,  are  absolutely  identical  with  those  which  mark  the 
sites  of  towns  and  forts  known  to  have  been  occupied  by  the 
Indians,  within  the  historical  period.  The  pottery  taken  from 


GENERAL    OBSERVATIONS.  139 

these  sites  and  from  within  the  supposed  ancient  inclosures,  is 
alike  in  all  respects ;  the  pipes  and  ornaments  are  undistin- 
guishable  ;  and  the  indications  of  aboriginal  dwellings  are  pre 
cisely  similar,  and,  so  far  as  can  be  discovered,  have  equal  claim 
to  antiquity.  Near  many  of  these  works  are  found  cemeteries, 
in  which  well-preserved  skeletons  are  contained,  and  which, 
except  in  the  absence  of  remains  of  European  art,  differ  in  no 
essential  respect  from  the  cemeteries  found  in  connection  with 
the  abandoned  modern  towns  and  "  castles "  of  the  Indians. 
There  are  other  not  less  important  facts  and  coincidences,  all 
of  which  go  to  establish  that  if  the  earth-works  of  Western 
New  York  are  of  a  remote  ancient  date,  they  were  not  only 
secondarily  but  generally  occupied  by  the  Iroquois  or  neighbor 
ing  and  contemporary  nations ;  or  else —  and  this  hypothesis  is 
most  consistent  and  reasonable — they  were  erected  by  them. 

It  may  be  objected,  that  if  the  Indians  constructed  works  of 
this  kind,  it  could  not  have  escaped  the  notice  of  the  early 
explorers,  and  would  have  been  made  the  subject  of  remark  by 
them.  The  omission  is  singular,  but  not  unaccountable. 
They  all  speak  of  the  defences  of  the  Indians  as  composed  of 
palisades  firmly  set  in  the  ground.  The  simple  circumstance 
of  the  earth  being  heaped  up  around  them,  to  lend  them 
greater  firmness,  may  have  been  regarded  as  so  natural  and 
simple  an  expedient,  as  not  to  be  deserving  of  special  mention, 
particularly  as  the  embankment,  in  such  a  case,  would  be  an 
entirely  subordinate  part  of  the  structure.  After  the  intro 
duction  of  European  implements,  enabling  the  Indians  to  plant 
their  pickets  more  firmly  in  the  ground,  and  to  lend  them  a 
security  before  unattainable,  the  necessity  for  an  embankment 
was  in  a  great  degree  obviated.  We  may  thus  account  for  its 
absence  in  their  later  structures,  which  also  underwent  some 
modification  of  form,  suggested  by  the  example  or  instructions 
of  the  whites,  or  by  the  new  modes  of  warfare  following  the 
introduction  of  firearms.  Thus  in  the  plan  of  the  old  Seneca 


140  ABORIGINAL    MONUMENTS    OF    NEW    YORK. 

fort  of  Ganundasaga,  we  find  distinct  traces  of  the  bastion — a 
feature  observable  in  none  of  the  more  ancient  defences. 

I  am  aware  that  the  remnants  of  the  Indian  stock  which  still 
exist  in  the  State,  generally  profess  total  ignorance  of  these 
works.  I  do  not,  however,  attach  much  importance  to  this  cir 
cumstance.  When  we  consider  the  extreme  likelihood  of  the 
forgetfulness  of  ancient  practices,  in  the  lapse  of  three  hundred 
years,  the  lack  of  knowledge  upon  this  point  is  the  weakest  of 
all  negative  evidence.  Cusick,  the  Indian,  in  his  so-called  "  His 
tory  of  the  Six  Nations,"  has,  no  doubt,  correctly  described  the 
manner  in  which  they  constructed  their  early  defences.  "  The 
manner  of  making  a  fort :  First,  they  set  fire  against  as  many 
trees  as  it  requires  to  make  the  inclosure,  rubbing  off  the  coals 
with  their  stone  axes,  so  as  to  make  them  burn  faster.  When 
the  tree  falls,  they  put  fires  to  it  about  three  paces  apart,  and 
burn  it  into  pieces.  These  pieces  are  then  brought  to  the  spot 
required,  and  set  up  around,  according  to  the  bigness  of  the 
fort.  The  earth  is  then  heaped  on  both  sides.  The  fort  has 
generally  two  gates,  one  for  passage  and  one  to  the  water." 
"  The  people,"  continues  Cusick,  "  had  implements  with  which 
they  made  their  bows  and  arrows.  Their  kettles  were  made 
of  baked  clay ;  their  awls  and  needles  of  sharpened  bones ;  their 
pipes  of  baked  clay  or  soft  stone ;  a  small  turtle-shell  was  used 
to  peel  the  bark,  and  a  small  dry  stick  to  make  fire  by  boring 
it  against  seasoned  wood." 

Golden  observes  of  their  defences,  as  they  were  constructed 
in  his  time :  "  Their  castles  are  generally  a  square  surrounded 
with  palisades,  without  any  bastions  or  outworks;  for,  since  the 
general  peace,  their  villages  all  lie  open."* 

In  full  view  of  the  facts  before  presented,  I  am  driven  to  a 
conclusion  little  anticipated  when  I  started  upon  my  explora 
tion  of  the  monuments  of  the  State,  that  the  earth-works  of 
Western  New  York  were  erected  by  the  Iroquois  or  their  west 
ern  neighbors,  and  do  not  possess  an  antiquity  going  very  far 

*  History  of  the  Five  Nations,  vol.  I.,  p.  9. 


GENERAL    OBSERVATIONS.  141 

back  of  the  discovery.  Their  general  occurrence  upon  a  line 
parallel  to  and  not  far  distant  from  the  lakes,  favors  the  hypoth 
esis  that  they  were  built  by  frontier  tribes — a  hypothesis 
entirely  conformable  to  aboriginal  traditions.  Here,  according 
to  these  traditions,  every  foot  of  ground  was  contested  between 
the  Iroquois  and  the  Gah-kwas  and  other  western  tribes ;  and 
here,  as  a  consequence,  where  most  exposed  to  attack,  were 
permanent  defences  most  necessary.  It  was  not  until  after  the 
Confederation,  that  the  Five  Nations  were  able  to  check  and 
finally  expel  the  warlike  people  which  disputed  with  them  the 
possession  of  the  beautiful  and  fertile  regions  bordering  the 
lakes ;  and  it  is  not  impossible  that  it  was  the  pressure  from 
this  direction  which  led  to  that  Confederation — an  anomaly  in 
the  history  of  the  aborigines.  Common  danger,  rather  than  a 
far-seeing  policy,  may  be  regarded  as  the  impelling  cause  of  the 
consolidation. 

In  conclusion,  I  may  be  permitted  to  observe,  that  the  an 
cient  remains  of  Western  New  York,  except  so  far  as  they 
throw  light  upon  the  system  of  defence  practiced  by  the  abori 
ginal  inhabitants,  and  tend  to  show  that  they  were  to  a  degree 
fixed  and  agricultural  in  their  habits,  have  slight  bearing  upon 
the  grand  ethnological  and  archaeological  questions  involved  in 
the  ante- Columbian  history  of  the  continent.  The  resemblances 
which  they  bear  to  the  defensive  structures  of  other  rude  na 
tions,  in  various  parts  of  the  world,  are  the  result  of  natural 
causes,  and  cannot  be  taken  to  indicate  either  a  close  or  re 
mote  connection  or  dependence.  All  primitive  defences,  being 
designed  to  resist  common  modes  of  attack,  are  essentially  the 
same  in  their  principles,  and  seldom  differ  very  much  in  their 
details.  The  aboriginal  hunter  and  the  semi-civilized  Aztec 
selected  precisely  similar  positions  for  their  fortresses,  and 
defended  them  upon  the  same  general  plan ;  yet  it  would  be 
palpably  unsafe  to  found  conclusions  as  to  the  relations  of  the 
respective  builders,  upon  the  narrow  basis  of  these  resemblances 
alone. 


CHAPTEK    VII. 

ANCIENT  WORKS   IN   PENNSYLVANIA,  OHIO,  AND    NEW    HAMPSHIRE. 

WITHOUT  the  boundaries  of  the  State  of  New  York,  there 
are  works  composed  of  earth,  closely  resembling  those  described 
in  the  preceding  pages.  Among  these  may  be  named  the 
small  earth-works  of  Northern  Ohio,  which  the  author  himself 
was  at  one  time  led  to  believe  constituted  part  of  the  grand 
system  of  the  mound-builders.*  The  more  extensive  and 
accurate  information  which  he  has  now  in  his  possession  con 
cerning  them,  as  also  concerning  those  of  Western  New  York, 
has  led  to  an  entire  modification  of  his  views,  and  to  the  con 
viction  that  they  are  all  of  comparatively  late  date,  and  proba 
bly  of  common  origin. 

Some  similar  works  are  said  to  occur  in  Canada ;  but  we 
have  no  account  at  all  satisfactory  concerning  them.  One  is 
mentioned  by  Laing  (Polynesian  Nations,  p.  109),  upon  the 
authority  of  a  third  person,  as  situated  upon  the  summit  of  a 
precipitous  ridge,  near  Lake  Simcoe,  and  consisting  of  an 
embankment  of  earth,  inclosing  a  considerable  extent  of 
ground.  Mr.  Schoolcraft  also  states  that  there  are  some 
ancient  enigmatical  walls  of  earth  in  the  vicinity  of  Dundas, 
which  extend  several  miles  across  the  country,  following  the 
leading  ridges  of  land.  These  are  represented  to  be  from  five 
to  eight  miles  in  length,  and  not  far  from  six  feet  high,  with 
passages  at  intervals,  as  if  for  gates  (Oneota.  p.  326).  Our 
knowledge  concerning  these  is  too  limited  to  permit  any  con 
jecture  as  to  their  design. 

*  Ancient  Monuments  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  pp.  2,  46. 


ANCIENT    WORKS    IN    PENNSYLVANIA,    ETC.  143 

In  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  there  are  some  remains,  which 
may  be  regarded  as  the  "  outliers "  of  those  of  New  York. 
They  are  confined  to  the  upper  counties.  Those  in  the  Valley 
of  Wyoming  are  best  known.  They  have,  however,  been  lately 
so  much  obliterated,  that  it  is  probable  they  can  be  no  longer 
traced.  One  of  the  number  was  examined  and  measured  in 
1 8 1 7  by  a  gentleman  of  Wyoming,  whose  account  is  published 
by  Mr.  Miner,  in  his  "  History  of  Wyoming." 

"  It  is  situated  in  the  town  of  Kingston,  Luzerne  county, 
upon  a  level  plain,  on  the  north  side  of  Toby's  Creek,  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  feet  from  its  bank,  and  about  half  a  mile 
from  its  confluence  with  the  Susquehanna.  It  is  of  an  oval  or 
elliptical  form,  having  its  longest  diameter  from  northeast  to 
southwest,  at  right  angles  to  the  creek.  Its  diameters  are 
respectively  337  and  272  feet.  On  the  southwest  side  appears 
to  have  been  a  gateway,  twelve  feet  wide,  opening  toward  the 
great  eddy  of  the  river  into  which  the  creek  falls.  It  consist 
ed  of  a  single  embankment  of  earth,  which  in  height  and 
thickness  appears  to  have  been  the  same  on  all  sides.  Exte 
rior  to  the  wall  is  a  ditch.  The  bank  of  the  creek  upon  the 
side  toward  the  work  is  high  and  steep.  The  water  in  the 
creek  is  ordinarily  sufficiently  deep  to  admit  canoes  to  ascend 
to  the  fortification  from  the  river.  When  the  first  settlers 
came  to  Wyoming,  this  plain  was  covered  with  its  native  for 
ests,  consisting  principally  of  oak  and  yellow  pine ;  and  the 
trees  which  grew  upon  the  work  are  said  to  have  been  as  large 
as  those  in  any  part  of  the  valley.  One  large  oak,  upon  being 
cut  down,  was  found  to  be  700  years  old.  The  Indians  have 
no  traditions  concerning  these  fortifications;  nor  do  they 
appear  to  have  any  knowledge  of  the  purposes  for  which  they 
were  erected." — (Miner's  History  of  Wyoming,  p.  25.)  Traces 
of  a  similar  work  existed  on  "  Jacob's  Plains,"  on  the  upper 
flats  of  Wilkesbarre.  "  It  occupied  the  highest  point  on  the 
flats,  which  in  the  time  of  freshets  appears  like  an  island  in  the 
sea  of  waters.  In  size  and  shape  it  coincides  with  that  already 


144  ANCIENT    WORKS    IN 

described.  High  trees  were  growing  upon  the  embankment 
at  the  period  of  the  first  settlement  of  the  country.  It  is 
about  eighty  rods  from  the  river,  toward  which  opened  a  gate 
way  ;  and  the  old  settlers  concur  in  stating  that  a  well  [cache?'] 
existed  in  the  interior  near  the  southern  line.  On  the  banks 
of  the  river  is  an  ancient  burial-place,  in  which  the  bodies  were 
laid  horizontally  in  regular  rows.  In  excavating  the  canal 
through  the  bank  bordering  the  flats,  perhaps  thirty  rods  south 
of  the  fort,  another  burial-place  was  disclosed,  evidently  more 
ancient,  for  the  bones  crumbled  to  pieces  almost  immediately 
upon  exposure  to  the  air,  and  the  deposits  were  far  more 
numerous  than  in  that  near  the  river.  The  number  of  skele 
tons  are  represented  to  have  been  countless,  and  the  dead  had 
been  buried  in  a  sitting  posture.  In  this  place  of  deposit  no 
beads  were  found,  while  they  were  common  in  the  other." — 
(Miner's  History,  p.  28.) 

Near  this  locality,  which  seems  to  have  been  a  favorite  one 
with  the  Indians,  medals  bearing  the  head  of  the  First  George, 
and  other  relics  of  European  origin,  are  often  discovered. 

Still  further  to  the  northwest,  near  the  borders  of  New 
York,  and  forming  an  unbroken  chain  with  the  works  of  that 
State,  are  found  other  remains.  One  of  these,  on  the  Tioga 
River,  near  Athens,  was  ascribed  by  the  Duke  de  Rochefou 
cauld  to  the  French,  in  the  time  of  De  Nonville !  He 
describes  it  as  follows : 

"  Near  the  confines  of  Pennsylvania,  a  mountain  rises  from 
the  banks  of  the  River  Tioga,  in  the  shape  of  a  sugar-loaf, 
upon  which  are  to  be  seen  the  remains  of  some  entrenchments. 
These  are  called  by  the  inhabitants  the  l  Spanish  Ramparts,' 
but  I  judge  that  they  were  thrown  up  against  the  Indians,  in 
the  time  of  De  Nonville.  A  breast-work  is  still  remaining." — 
(Travels  in  America.)  A  similar  work,  circular  or  elliptical  in 
outline,  is  said  to  exist  in  Lycoming  county.  Near  it  are 
extensive  cemeteries. — (Day's  Hist.  Coll.,  p.  455.) 

In  the  New  England  States  few  traces  of  works  of  this  kind 


PENNSYLVANIA,    OHIO,    ETC. 


145 


are  to  be  found.  There  are,  however,  some  remains  in  the 
State  of  New  Hampshire,  which,  whatever  their  origin,  are 
entitled  to  notice.  The  subjoined  plan  of  one  of  these  is  from 
a  sketch  made  in  1822  by  Jacob  B.  Moore,  Esq.,  late  Libra- 


33. 


rian  of  the  Historical  Society  of  New  York,  who  has  also  fur 
nished  the  accompanying  description. 

"According  to  your  request,  I  send  the  inclosed  sketch  and 
7 


146  ANCIENT    WORKS    IN 

memoranda  of  an  ancient  fortification,  supposed  to  have  been 
the  work  of  the  Penacook  Indians,  a  once  powerful  tribe,  whose 
chief  seat  was  in  the  neighborhood  of  Concord,  New  Hampshire. 
The  original  name  of  the  town  was  derived  from  that  of  the 
tribe.  The  last  of  the  Penacooks  long  since  disappeared,  and 
with  them  have  perished  most  of  the  memorials  of  their  race. 
Enough  has  come  down  to  us,  however,  in  tradition,  added  to 
the  brief  notes  of  our  historians,  to  show  that  the  Penacooks 
were  once  a  numerous,  powerful,  and  warlike  tribe.  Gookin 
places  them  under  the  general  division  of  the  Pawtucketts, 
which  he  calls  '  the  fifth  great  sachemship  of  Indians.'*  Under 
the  name  of  Penacooks,  were  probably  included  all  the  Indians 
inhabiting  the  valley  of  the  Merrimack,  from  the  great  falls  at 
the  Amoskeag  to  the  Winnepiseogee  Lake,  and  the  great  car 
rying-place  on  the  Pemigewasset.  That  they  were  one  and  the 
same  tribe,  is  rendered  probable  from  the  exact  similarity  of 
relics,  which  have  been  found  at  different  places,  and  from  the 
general  resemblance  of  the  remains  of  ancient  fortifications, 
which  Tiave  been  traced  near  the  lower  falls  of  the  Winnepise 
ogee,  in  Franklin  and  Sanbornton,  and  on  the  table-land  known 
as  the  Sugar-Ball  Plain,  in  Concord.  Tradition  ascribes  to 
each  the  purpose  of  defence  against  a  common  enemy,  the 
Maquaas  or  Mohawks  of  the  west. 

"  The  accompanying  sketch  was  taken  in  pencil,  on  a  visit 
to  the  spot,  in  company  with  the  Hon.  James  Clark  and  several 
friends  in  the  month  of  September,  1822.  The  remains  are  on 
the  west  side  of  the  Winnepiseogee,  near  the  head  of  Little  Bay, 
in  Sanbornton,  New  Hampshire.  The  traces  of  the  walls  were 
at  that  time  easily  discerned,  although  most  of  the  stones  had 
been  removed  to  the  mill-dam  near  at  hand,  on  the  river.  On 
approaching  the  site,  we  called  upon  a  gentleman  (James  Gib 
son)  who  had  lived  for  many  years  near  the  spot,  and  of  whom 
we  learnt  the  following  particulars :  He  had  lived  in  Sanborn- 

*  Gookin,  in  Mass.  Hist.  Coll.,  I.,  149. 


PENNSYLVANIA,    OHIO,    ETC.  147 

ton  fifty -two  years,  and  had  known  the  fort  some  time  previous 
to  settling  in  the  place.  When  he  came  to  the  town  to  reside, 
the  walls  were  two  or  three  feet  high,  though  in  some  places 
they  had  fallen  down,  and  the  whole  had  evidently  much  dimin 
ished  in  height,  since  the  first  erection.  They  were  about 
three  feet  in  thickness,  constructed  of  stones  outwardly,  and 
filled  in  with  clay,  shells,  gravel,  etc.,  from  the  Ibed  of  the  river 
and  shores  of  the  bay.  The  stones  of  which  the  walls  were 
constructed  were  of  no  great  size,  and  such  as  men  in  a  savage 
state  would  be  supposed  to  use  for  such  a  purpose.  They  were 
placed  together  with  much  order  and  regularity,  and  when  of 
their  primitive  height,  the  walls  must  have  been  very  strong — 
at  least,  sufficiently  strong  for  all  the  purposes  of  defence 
against  an  enemy  to  whom  the  use  of  firearms  was  unknown. 

"  The  site  of  the  fortification  is  nearly  level,  descending  a 
little  from  the  walls  to  the  bank  of  the  river.  "West,  for  the 
distance  of  nearly  half  a  mile,  the  surface  is  quite  even.  In  front, 
or  east,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river,  are  high  banks,  upon 
which  at  that  time  stood  a  thick  growth  of  wood.  When  the 
first  settlers  discovered  the  fort,  there  were  oak  trees  of  large 
size  standing  within  the  walls.  Within  the  inclosure,  and  in 
the  mound  and  vicinity,  were  found  innumerable  Indian  orna 
ments,  such  as  crystals  cut  into  the  rude  shapes  of  diamonds, 
squares,  pyramids,  etc.,  with  ornamental  pipes  of  stone  and 
clay — coarse  pottery  ornamented  with  various  figures — arrow 
heads,  hatchets  of  stone,  and  other  common  implements  of 
peace  and  war. 

"  The  small  island  in  the  bay  appears  to  have  been  a  burial- 
place,  from  the  great  quantity  of  bones  and  other  remains  dis 
closed  by  the  plough,  when  settlements  were  commenced  by  the 
whites.  Before  the  island  was  cultivated,  there  were  several 
large  excavations  resembling  cellars  or  wells  discovered,  for 
what  purpose  constructed  or  used,  can  of  course  only  be  con 
jectured.  There  is  a  tradition  that  the  Penacooks,  at  the  time 


148  ANCIENT    WORKS    IN 

of  their  destruction  by  the  Maquaas,  had  three  hundred  birch 
canoes  in  Little  Bay. 

"After  writing  thus  far,  I  addressed  a  note  to  the  Hon. 
James  Clark,  of  Franklin,  New  Hampshire,  with  inquiries  as 
to  the  present  state  of  these  ruins.  Mr.  Clark  was  kind  enough 
at  once  to  make  a  special  visit  to  the  site  of  the  ruins,  in  com 
pany  with  Mr.  Bamford,  son  of  one  of  the  first  settlers.  The 
following  is  an  extract  from  his  reply : 

" '  The  remains  of  the  walls  are  in  part  plainly  to  be  traced ; 
but  the  ground  since  our  former  examination  has  been  several 
years  ploughed  and  cultivated,  so  as  to  now  give  a  very  indis 
tinct  view  of  what  they  were  at  our  previous  visit,  when  the 
foundation  of  the  whole  could  be  distinctly  traced.  No  mounds 
or  passage-ways  can  now  be  traced.  A  canal  to  convey  water 
to  a  saw  and  grist  mill  occupies  the  place  of  the  mound  marked 
m.  The  stones  used  in  these  walls  were  obtained  on  the  ground, 
and  were  of  such  size  as  one  man  could  lift ;  they  were  laid  as 
well  as  our  good  walls  for  fences  in  the  north,  and  very  regu 
lar  ;  they  were  about  three  feet  in  thickness  and  breast  high 
when  first  discovered.  The  stones  have  been  used  to  fill  in 
the  dam  now  adjoining.  There  were  no  embankments  in  the 
interior.  The  distance  between  the  outer  and  inner  wall  was 
about  sixty  feet ;  the  distance  from  the  north  to  the  south  wall 
was  about  250  feet,  and  from  the  west  wall  to  the  river  about 
220  feet.  There  were  two  other  walls  extending  south  to  Little 
Bay.  The  general  elevation  of  the  ground  was  about  ten  feet 
above,  and  gently  sloping  to  the  river  bank,  which  is  about  five 
feet  above  the  water  of  the  river.  The  distance  between  Great 
Bay  and  Little  Bay  is  about  160  rods,  with  a  gradual  fall  of 
fifteen  feet.  Here  was  a  great  fishing-place  for  the  Indians.' 
Mr.  Bamford  states  that  he  has  heard  his  father  and  Mr.  Gib 
son  say,  that  on  their  first  acquaintance  with  this  place,  they 
have  seen  three  hundred  bark  canoes  here  at  a  time.  This 
may  have  been  in  consequence  of  the  number  of  bays  and  lakes 
near  this  place.  Sanbornton  was  laid  out  and  surveyed  in 


PENNSYLVANIA,    OHIO,    ETC.  149 

1750 ;  but  Canterbury,  adjoining  the  bay,  was  settled  as  early 
as  1727. 

"  The  remains  of  a  fortification,  apparently  of  similar  con 
struction  to  that  above  described,  were  some  years  since  to  be 
seen  on  the  bluffs  east  of  the  Merrimack  River,  in  Concord,  on 
what  was  formerly  known  as  Sugar-Ball  Plain.  The  walls 
could  readily  be  traced  for  some  distance,  though  crumbled 
nearly  to  the  ground,  and  overgrown  with  large  trees."* 

*  "  A  mound  45  or  50  feet  in  diameter  is  situated  on  the  northern 
shore  of  Ossipee  Lake,  New  Hampshire.  It  is  ten  feet  high,  and  was 
originally  covered  with  timber.  The  earth  is  not  like  that  of  the  mea 
dow  in  which  it  stands,  but  of  the  adjacent  plain.  A  slight  excavation 
was  made  in  it  a  number  of  years  ago,  in  the  course  of  which  three  entire 
skeletons  were  found,  accompanied  by  two  tomahawks  and  some  coarse 
pottery.  On  the  surrounding  meadow  were  to  be  seen,  when  the  ground 
was  first  cleared,  the  hills  where  the  corn  had  anciently  grown." — Hist, 
and  Mis.  Coll.  of  N.  H.,  vol.  II.,  p.  47;  New  Hampshire  Gazetteer,  p.  207. 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

GENERAL    CHARACTER    OF    INDIAN    DEFENCES. 

THE  fortifications  of  the  savage  or  hunter  tribes  of  North 
America  are  uniformly  represented  to  have  been  constructed 
of  rows  of  pickets,  surrounding  their  villages,  or  inclosing  posi 
tions  naturally  strong  and  easy  of  defence.  The  celebrated 
stronghold  of  the  Narragansetts  in  Rhode  Island,  destroyed  in 
1676  by  the  New  England  colonists  under  Winthrop  and 
Church,  was  an  elevation  of  five  or  six  acres  in  extent,  situated 
in  the  centre  of  a  swamp,  and  strongly  defended  by  palisades. 
It  was  of  extraordinary  size,  and  inclosed  not  far  from  six  hun 
dred  lodges. 

Of  like  character  was  the  fort  of  the  Pequots,  on  the  Mystic 
River,  in  Connecticut,  destroyed  by  Captain  Mason.  Accord 
ing  to  Hackluyt,  the  towns  of  the  Indians  on  the  St.  Lawrence 
were  defended  in  a  similar  manner.  The  first  voyagers  describe 
the  aboriginal  town  of  Hochelaga,  now  Montreal,  as  circular  in 
form,  and  surrounded  by  three  lines  of  palisades.  Through 
these  there  was  but  a  single  entrance,  well  secured  by  stakes 
and  bars ;  and  upon  the  inside  of  the  defence,  were  stages  or 
platforms,  upon  which  were  placed  stones  and  other  missiles^ 
ready  for  use,  in  case  of  attack.  The  town  contained  about 
fifty  lodges.— (Hackluyt,  vol.  III.,  p.  220.) 

Charlevoix  observes,  that  "  the  Indians  of  Canada  are  more 
expert  in  erecting  their  fortifications  than  in  building  their 
houses."  He  represents  that  their  villages  were  surrounded  by 
double  and  frequently  by  triple  rows  of  palisades,  interwoven 
with'branches  of  trees,  and  flanked  by  redoubts. — (Canada, 
vol.  II.,  p.  128.)  Cham  plain  also  describes  a  number  of  forti 
fied  works  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  above  Trois  Rivieres,  which 


CHARACTER  OF  INDIAN  DEFENCES.         151 

"  were  composed  of  a  number  of  posts  set  very  close  together." 
He  also  speaks  of  "  forts  which  were  great  inclosures,  with  tiers 
joined  together  like  pales,"  within  which  were  the  dwellings  of 
the  Indians. — (Purchas,  vol.  IV.,  pp.  1612,  1644.)  Says  La 
Hontan,  "  their  villages  were  fortified  with  double  palisades  of 
very  hard  wood,  which  were  as  thick  as  one's  thigh,  fifteen  feet 
high,  with  little  squares  about  the  middle  of  the  courtines  (cur 
tains). — (Vol.  II. }  p.  6.)  The  Indians  on  the  coasts  of  Virginia 
and  North  Carolina  are  described  as  possessing  corresponding 
defences.  "  When  they  would  be  very  safe,"  says  Beverly, 
'•  they  treble  the  pales." — (Hist.  Virg.,  p.  1 49,  See  also  Amidas 
and  Barlow  in  Pink.,  vol.  XII.,  p.  567 ;  Heriot,  ib.,  p.  603 ; 
Lafitau,  vol.  III.,  p.  228,  etc.  etc.) 

Among  the  Floridian  tribes,  the  custom  of  fortifying  their 
villages  seems  to  have  been  more  general  than  among  the  In 
dians  of  a  higher  latitude.  This  may  readily  be  accounted  for 
from  the  fact  that  they  were  more  fixed  in  their  habits,  consi 
derably  devoted  to  agriculture,  and  less  averse  to  labor  than 
those  of  the  north.  The  chronicler  of  Soto's  Expedition  speaks 
of  their  towns  as  defended  by  "  strong  works  of  the  height  of  a 
lance,"  composed  of  "  great  stakes  driven  deep  in  the  ground, 
with  poles  the  bigness  of  one's  arm  placed  crosswise,  both  inside 
and  out,  and  fastened  with  pins  to  knit  the  whole  together. 
Herrara,  in  his  compiled  account  of  the  same  expedition,  has 
the  following  confirmation.  "  The  town  of  Mabila  or  Mavila 
(Mobile)  consisted  of  eighty  houses  seated  in  a  plain,  inclosed 
by  piles  driven  down,  with  timbers  athwart,  rammed  with  long 
straw  and  earth  between  the  hollow  spaces,  so  that  it  looked 
like  a  wall  smoothed  with  a  trowel ;  and  at  every  eighty  paces 
was  a  tower,  where  eight  men  could  fight,  with  many  loop-holes 
and  two  gates.  In  the  midst  of  the  town  was  a  large  square." — 
(Hist.  America,  vol.  V.,  p.  324.)  Du  Pratz  also  gives  a  corre 
sponding  account  of  the  defences  of  the  Natchez  and  neighboring 
tribes.  "  Their  forts  are  built  circularly,  of  two  rows  of  large 
logs  of  wood,  the  logs  of  the  inner  row  being  opposite  to  the 


152 


CHARACTER    OF    INDIAN    DEFENCES. 


jointings  of  those  of  the  outer  row.     These  logs  are  about  fifteen 
feet  long,  five  feet  of  which  are  sunk  in  the  earth.     The  outer 


CHARACTER  OF  INDIAN  DEFENCES.         153 

logs  are  about  two  feet  thick,  the  inner  ones  half  as  much.  At 
every  forty  paces  along  this  wall,  a  circular  tower  juts  out,  and 
at  the  entrance  of  the  fort,  which  is  always  next  the  river,  the 
two  ends  of  the  wall  pass  beyond  each  other,  leaving  a  side 
opening.  In  the  middle  of  the  fort  stands  a  tree,  with  the 
branches  lopped  off  within  a  short  distance  of  the  trunk,  and 
this  serves  as  a  watch-tower." — (Hist.  Louisiana,  p.  375.)  The 
following  description  and  illustrative  engraving,  copied  from 
De  Bry,  no  doubt  convey  a  correct  idea  of  the  character  of  the 
Floridian  defences. 

"  The  Indians  build  their  towns  in  this  wise.  Having  made 
choice  of  a  spot  near  a  running  stream,  they  level  it  off  as  even 
as  they  can.  They  next  draw  a  furrow  of  the  size  of  the 
intended  town  in  the  form  of  a  circle,  in  which  they  plant  large 
round  stakes,  twice  the  height  of  a  man,  and  set  closely  together. 
At  the  place  where  the  entrance  is  to  be,  the  circle  is  somewhat 
drawn  in.  after  the  fashion  of  a  snail-shell,  making  the  opening 
so  narrow  as  not  to  admit  more  than  two  at  a  time.  The  bed 
of  the  stream  is  also  turned  into  this  entrance.  At  the  head 
of  the  entrance  a .  small  round  building  is  usually  erected  ; 
within  the  passage  is  placed  another.  Each  of  them  is  pierced 
with  slits  and  holes  for  observation,  and  is  handsomely  finished 
off  after  the  manner  of  the  country.  In  these  guard -houses 
are  placed  those  sentinels  who  can  scent  the  trail  of  enemies  at 
a  great  distance.  As  soon  as  their  sense  of  smelling  tells  them 
that  some  are  near,  they  hasten  out,  and,  having  found  them, 
raise  an  alarm.  The  inhabitants,  on  hearing  the  shouting, 
immediately  fly  to  the  defence  of  the  town,  armed  with  bows; 
arrows,  and  clubs. 

"  In  the  middle  of  the  town  stands  the  king's  palace,  sunk 
somewhat  below  the  level  of  the  ground,  on  account  of  the  heat 
of  the  sun.  Around  it  are  ranged  the  houses  of  the  nobles,  all 
slightly  covered  with  palm-branches;  for  they  make  use  of 
them  only  during  nine  months  of  the  year,  passing,  as  we  have 
said,  the  other  three  months  in  the  woods.  When  they  return, 
7* 


154         CHARACTER  OF  INDIAN  DEFENCES. 

they,  take  to  their  houses  again ;  unless,  indeed,  they  have  been 
burned  down  in  the  mean  time  by  their  enemies,  in  which  case 
they  build  themselves  new  ones  of  similar  materials.  Such  is 
the  magnificence  of  Indian  palaces." 

Among  the  Indians  to  the  westward  of  the  Mississippi,  par 
ticularly  among  the  Mandans  and  kindred  tribes,  a  somewhat 
different  system  of  defence  prevailed.  The  serpentine  courses  of 
the  rivers,  all  of  which  have  here  high,  steep  banks,  leave  many 
projecting  points  of  land  or  elevated  peninsulas,  protected  on 
nearly  all  sides  by  the  streams,  and  capable,  with  little  artificial 
aid,  of  being  made  effective  for  defensive  purposes.  Mr.  Catlin 
describes  the  principal  village  of  the  Mandans,  while  that 
remarkable  tribe  existed,  as  protected  upon  three  sides  by  the 
river,  and  upon  the  fourth  "  by  a  strong  picket,  with  an  interior 
ditch,  three  or  four  feet  in  depth."  The  picket  was  composed 
of  timbers  a  foot  or  more  in  diameter  and  eighteen  feet  high, 
set  firmly  in  the  ground,  at  a  sufficient  distance  from  each  other 
to  admit  guns  to  be  fired  between  them.  The  warriors  stationed 
themselves  in  the  ditch  during  an  attack,  and  were  thus  almost 
completely  protected  from  their  assailants.  These  practices 
seem,  however,  to  be  of  comparatively  late  introduction. — 
(N.  A.  Indians,  vol.  I,  p.  81.) 

Brackenridge  ( Views  of  Louisiana,  p.  242)  mentions  the 
ruins  of  an  Indian  town  upon  the  Missouri  River,  fifty  miles 
above  the  mouth  of  the  Shienne.  The  spot  was  marked  by 
"  great  piles  of  buffalo  bones  and  quantities  of  earthenware. 
The  village  appeared  to  have  been  scattered  around  a  kind  of 
citidel  or  fortification,  inclosing  from  four  to  five  acres,  in  an 
oval  form."  The  earth  was  thrown  up  about  four  feet,  and  a 
few  of  the  palisades  were  remaining.  The  Shienne  River  is 
1300  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri.  Lewis  and  Clark 
also  mention  a  number  of  remains  of  Indian  fortifications  of 
like  character ;  but  it  is  to  be  observed  that  they  distinguish 
between  them  and  the  larger  and  more  imposing  ancient  works 
which  fell  under  their  notice  in  the  same  region.  They  describe 
an  abandoned  village  of  the  Riccarees,  called  Lahoocat,  which 


CHARACTER    OF    INDIAN    DEFENCES.  155 

was  situated  in  the  centre  of  Goodhope  Island.  It  contained 
seventeen  lodges,  surrounded  by  a  circular  wall,  and  is  known  to 
have  been  occupied  in  1797. — (Exp.,  p.  72.)  They  also  men 
tion  the  remains  of  a  deserted  village,  erected  by  Petit  Arc  or 
Little  Bow,  an  Omahaw  chief,  on  the  banks  of  a  small  creek  of 
the  same  name,  emptying  into  the  Missouri.  It  was  surrounded 
by  a  wall  of  earth,  about  four  feet  high. — (Exp.,  p.  41.)  A  cir 
cular  work  of  earth,  formerly  inclosing  a  village  of  the  Shiennes, 
was  noticed  by  these  explorers,  a  short  distance  above  the  mouth 
of  the  Shienne  River. — (Exp.,  p.  80.)  The  ancient  villages  of 
the  Mandans,  nine  of  which  were  observed  in  the  same  vicinity, 
within  a  space  of  twenty  miles,  were  indicated  by  the  walls 
which  surrounded  them,  the  fallen  heaps  of  earth  which  cov 
ered  the  huts,  and  by  the  scattered  teeth  and  bones  of  men  and 
animals. — (Exp.,  p.  84.)  Another  defensive  work,  probably 
designed  for  temporary  protection,  was  observed  by  these  gen 
tlemen  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mouth  of  the  Yellowstone.  "It 
was  built  upon  the  level  bottom,  in  the  form  of  a  circle,  fifty 
feet  in  diameter,  and  was  composed  of  logs  lapping  over  each 
other,  about  five  feet  high,  and  covered  on  the  outside  with 
bark  set  upright.  The  entrance  was  guarded  by  a  work  on 
each  side  of  it,  facing  the  river."  These  entrenchments,  they 
were  informed,  are  frequently  made  by  the  Minaterees  and 
other  Indians  at  war  with  the  Shoshonees,  when  pursued  by 
their  enemies  on  horseback. — (Exp.,  p.  622.)  Lieut.  Fremont 
found  similar  constructions  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Arkansas. 
A  much  more  feasible  method  of  protection,  under  such  circum 
stances,  is  mentioned  by  Pike.  He  states  that  the  Sioux, 
when  in  danger  from  their  enemies  in  the  plains,  soon  cover 
themselves  by  digging  holes  with  their  knives,  and  throwing 
up  small  breastworks. — (Exp.,  p.  19.)  They  are  represented 
as  being  able  to  bury  themselves  from  sight,  in  an  incredibly 
short  space  of  time. 

The  numerous  traces  upon  the  Missouri,  of  old  villages  occu 
pying  similar  positions,  and  having  evidently  been  defended  in 


156         CHARACTER  OF  INDIAN  DEFENCES. 

a  like  manner  with  those  above  described,  place  it  beyond  doubt 
that  this  method  of  fortification  was  not  of  recent  origin  among 
those  Indians.  Mr.  Catlin  mentions  that  there  are  several 
ruined  villages  of  the  Mandans,  Minaterees  and  Riccarees,  on 
the  banks  of  the  river,  below  the  towns  then  occupied,  which 
have  been  abandoned  since  intercourse  became  established  with 
the  whites. 

Prince  Maximilian  notices  a  feature  in  the  defences  of  the 
Mandan  village  of  Mih-tutta-hang-kush,  which  does  not  seem 
to  have  been  remarked  by  any  other  traveler.  This  village  is 
represented  to  have  consisted  of  about  sixty  huts,  surrounded 
by  palisades,  forming  a  defence,  at  the  angles  of  which  were 
"conical  mounds,  covered  with  a  facing  of  wicker-work,  and 
having  embrasures,  completely  commanding  the-  river  and 
plain."  In  another  place,  however,  our  author  adds,  that  these 
bastions  were  erected  for  the  Indians  by  the  whites. — ( Travels 
in  the  Interior  of  North  America,  by  Maximilian,  Prince  of 
Weid.—w-  173,  243.) 

It  will  thus  be  seen,  from  what  has  already  been  presented, 
that,  while  the  Indian  tribes  on  the  Atlantic  coast  and  along 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  with  few  exceptions,  defended  themselves 
by  simple  stockades,  the  Indians  to  the  west  of  the  Mississippi 
frequently  added  an  embankment  of  earth,  though  in  other  re 
spects  observing  a  very  great  uniformity  with  those  nations  first 
named.  This  difference  may  be  accounted  for,  to  a  certain  ex 
tent,  by  the  nature  of  the  soil,  which,  at  the  west,  is  generally 
readily  excavated  with  the  simplest  tools. 

Among  the  semi-civilized  inhabitants  of  Mexico,  Central 
America,  and  Peru,  similar  methods  of  defence  were  practiced ; 
but  in  the  construction  of  their  fortresses  they  displayed  a  degree 
of  superiority  corresponding  to  that  which,  in  most  other  re 
spects,  they  sustained  over  their  savage  contemporaries.  Cortez 
found  himself  opposed,  upon  his  first  landing  on  the  coast  of 
Tobasco,  by  the  town  of  the  same  name,  which,  according  to 
De  Solis,  was  fortified  after  the  usual  method,  on  the  coast 


CHARACTER  OF  INDIAN  DEFENCES.         157 

The  defences  consisted  of  a  kind  of  wall,  made  of  the  trunks 
of  large  trees,  fixed  in  the  ground  after  the  manner  of  palisades, 
but  so  placed  that  there  was  room  for  the  Indians  to  discharge 
their  arrows  between  them.  The  work  was  round,  without  any 
traverses  or  other  defences,  and  at  the  closing  of  the  circle  the 
extremity  of  one  line  covered  the  other,  and  formed  a  narrow, 
winding  street,  in  which  there  were  two  or  three  little  castles 
of  wood  which  filled  up  the  passage,  and  in  which  were  posted 
their  sentinels.  "  This,"  continues  Solis,  "  was  a  sufficient 
fortress  against  the  arms  of  the  new  world,  when  they  were 
happily  ignorant  of  the  arts  of  war  and  of  those  methods  to 
attack  and  defend,  in  which  mankind  has  been  instructed  either 
by  malice  or  necessity." — (De  Soils'  Hist.  Mexico,  p.  54.) 
This  town,  corresponding  entirely  with  those  described  by  the 
followers  of  De  Soto,  in  Florida,  seems  to  have  been  rudely  for 
tified  in  comparison  with  others  in  the  interior  of  the  country, 
and  nearer  the  seat  of  Aztec  civilization.  Here  the  towns  and 
cities  were  surrounded  not  only  by  palisades,  but  also  by  ditches 
and  walls  of  earth  and  solid  masonry.  The  skill  with  which 
the  city  of  Mexico  was  protected  is  amply  attested  by  the 
chronicler  of  Cortez'  expedition,  who  also  informs  us  that  walls 
were  sometimes  erected  to  guard  the  frontiers  of  provinces. 
The  great  wall  of  Tlascalla  furnishes,  in  its  extent,  a  parallel 
to  some  of  the  more  imposing  defensive  structures  of  the  other 
hemisphere.  It  was  erected,  according  to  Cortez,  by  the  "  an 
cient  inhabitants  "  of  that  republic  as  a  protection  against  their 
enemies ;  and  Clavigero  asserts  that  other  portions  of  the  fron 
tier  were  defended  in  a  similar  manner.  De  Solis  describes  it 
as  "  a  great  wall  which  ran  across  a  valley  from  one  mountain 
to  another,  entirely  stopping  up  the  way ;  a  sumptuous  and 
strong  piece  of  building,  which  showed  the  power  and  greatness 
of  the  builders.  The  outside  was  of  hewn  stone,  united  with 
mortar  of  extraordinary  strength.  It  was  twenty  feet  thick 
and  a  fathom  and  a  half  high ;  and  on  the  top  was  a  parapet 
after  the  manner  of  our  fortifications.  The  entrance  was  nar- 


158  CHARACTER    OF    INDIAN    DEFENCES. 

row  and  winding,  the  wall  in  that  part  dividing,  and  making 
two  walls,  which  circularly  crossed  each  other  for  the  space  of 
ten  paces."  Clavigero  states  that  it  was  six  miles  in  length, 
eight  feet  in  height,  besides  the  parapet,  and  eighteen  feet  in 
thickness,  composed  of  stone  cemented  with  mortar.  Works 
also  existed  in  Mexico  which  approached  more  nearly  to  the 
character  of  the  modern  forts.  They  were,  for  the  most  part, 
strong,  natural  positions,  such  as  isolated  eminences,  or  the 
summits  of  steep  and  rugged  mountains. 

One  of  these,  inclosing  the  ruins  of  many  imposing  temples 
and  edifices,  is  situated  to  the  north  of  the  city  of  Mexico,  in 
the  department  of  Zacatecas,  which  is  supposed  to  have  been 
formerly  occupied  by  the  Chichimecs  and  Otomies.  It  is  now 
known  as  the  "  Ruins  of  Quemada."  The  ruins  are  situated 
upon  the  summit  of  a  high  hill  or  cerro,  and  are  inclosed  upon 
the  north,  where  the  ground  is  sloping,  by  broad,  double  walls 
of  massive  stones  cemented  with  mortar.  Upon  the  south  are 
rugged  precipices,  affording  natural  defences.  The  walls  have 
bastions  at  intervals,  and  are  entered  by  four  broad  roads,  or 
causeways,  which  extend  in  different  directions  over  the  adjacent 
plains. 

The  hill  of  Xochicalco  is  three  hundred  feet  in  height,  and 
a  league  in  circumference,  surrounded  at  the  base  by  a  deep 
and  wide  ditch.  "Whether  designed  as  a  temple  or  fortress,  is 
not  apparent.  It  may  have  subserved  both  purposes ;  for  there 
is  ample  evidence,  in  the  records  of  the  conquerors,  that  the 
sacred  grounds  of  the  Aztecs  were  their  places  of  last  resort,  in 
the  defence  of  which  their  valor  was  inflamed  by  religious  zeal. 
The  summit  of  the  hill  of  Xochicalco  is  attained  by  five  spiral 
terraces,  faced  with  cemented  stones  and  supported  by  bulwarks, 
and  is  crowned  by  the  ruins  of  edifices,  which  rank  among  the 
most  imposing  remains  of  the  continent.  An  ancient  fortress, 
which  no  doubt  well  illustrates  the  character  of  the  ancient 
Mexican  defences,  is  figured  and  described  by  Du  Paix.  "  It 
occupies  the  summit  of  a  steep,  isolated  rock,  about  a  league 


CHARACTER  OF  INDIAN  DEFENCES.         159 

west  of  Mitlan.  This  rock  is  accessible  only  from  the  eastern 
side.  The  wall  is  of  solid  stone,  twenty-one  feet  thick  and 
eighteen  high,  forming  in  its  wide  range,  which  is  about  a  league 
in  extent,  several  salient  and  retiring  angles,  with  curtains 
interposed.  On  its  assailable  side,  where  is  its  principal  en 
trance,  it  is  defended  by  double  walls  which  mutually  flank 
each  other.  The  first  or  most  advanced  forms  an  enceinte,  or 
elliptical  rampart,  upon  which,  at  short  intervals,  there  are 
heaps  of  small  round  stones  for  slinging,  and  in  the  centre  of 
the  crescent  there  is  an  oblique  gate,  to  avoid  the  enfilade  or 
right  line  of  arrows,  darts  and  stones.  The  second  wall,  which 
is  joined  at  its  extremities  to  that  of  the  fortress,  is  of  greater 
elevation,  and  forms  a  sort  of  tenaille.  It  differs  from  the 
other  in  having  its  sides  or  flanks  more  open.  It  has  likewise 
its  rampart  and  heaps  of  stones.  For  greater  security,  batteries 
were  disposed  in  the  Aztec  system  of  defence,  in  front  of  the 
fortification,  consisting  of  loose  round  stones,  about  three  feet 
in  diameter,  placed  high,  and  so  balanced  as  to  be  easily  pre 
cipitated  below.  On  the  plain  surface  of  the  rock  are  various 
ruins  of  square  buildings,  and  edifices  of  considerable  size, 
which  were  probably  the  ancient  barracks.  In  the  point  dia 
metrically  opposite  the  entrance,  is  a  sally-port  or  postern,  for 
furnishing  the  fort  with  men  and  provisions,  or  to  facilitate  a 
forced  retreat." 

Near  the  village  of  Molcaxac  are  the  remains  of  an  ancient 
fortress,  much  resembling  that  here  described.  It  occupies  the 
summit  of  a  mountain,  and  consists  of  four  concentric  walls  of 
great  strength  and  solidity. — (De  Soils,  Book  II.,  p.  139; 
Bradford's  Am.  Antq.,p.  104.) 

Another  fortress  of  similar  character,  is  mentioned  by 
Clavigero  as  existing  at  Guatusco,  twenty-five  miles  north  of 
Cordova.  It  consists  of  high  walls  of  stone,  and  is  only  entered 
.  by  high  and  narrow  flights  of  steps. 

Although  the  above  examples  may  seem  to  convey  a  very 
accurate  idea  of  the  nature  of  the  defensive  structures  of  the 


160  CHARACTER    OF    INDIAN    DEFENCES. 

Mexicans,  it  is  yet  to  be  regretted  that  so  brief  and  imperfect 
accounts  of  them  have  been  transmitted  to  us  by  the  early 
writers.  While  we  are  constantly  assured  of  their  existence, 
their  great  extent  and  vast  strength,  we  are  left  in  the  dark  in 
respect  to  their  details. 

More  is  known  respecting  the  military  works  of  Peru,  and  all 
accounts  concur  in  representing  them  as  clearly  resembling  those 
already  described.  According  to  Ulloa,  a  method  of  fortifica 
tion  existed,  nearly  allied  to  that  practiced  by  the  ancient  Celts. 
It  consisted  in  digging  three  or  four  ranges  of  moats  quite 
around  the  tops  of  high  and  steep  mountains,  protecting  them 
on  the  inside  by  walls  of  earth  or  stone.  These  were  called 
pucuras ;  and,  in  some  of  them,  the  outer  circumvallation  is 
represented  as  having  been  upwards  of  three  miles  in  extent. 
In  respect  to  their  number,  he  asserts  that  one  scarcely  meets 
with  a  mountain  without  them.*  Some  were  composed  of  rough 
stones  without  arrangement,  others  of  adobes.  The  more  irreg 
ular  of  these  were  attributed  to  the  Indians  before  they  were 
reduced  by  the  Incas.  La  Yega  describes  the  great  fortress 
of  Cuzco  as  constructed  of  three  immense  cyclopean  walls,  built 
rather  of  rocks  than  stones,  surrounding  a  hill.  Acosta  meas 
ured  some  of  the  stones,  and  found  them  thirty  feet  in  length, 
eighteen  in  breadth  and  six  in  thickness.  The  outer  wall  is 
said  to  have  been  twelve  hundred  feet  in  compass.  Through 
the  walls  were  gateways,  communicating  with  the  interior? 
where,  according  to  La  Yega,  were  three  strong  towers,  two  of 
which  were  square  and  one  round  ;  the  latter  appropriated  to 
the  use  of  the  Incas,  the  former  to  the  garrison.  Under  the 
towers  were  subterranean  passages  of  great  extent,  f  It  was 
supplied  with  water  from  a  fountain  in  the  centre.  This  is  the 
fortress  which  so  long  resisted  the  attacks  of  the  Spaniards. 


*  Ulloa,  vol.  I.,  p.  504;  vol.  II.,  p.  113. 

f  McCulloh,  p.  272 ;  Bradford,  p.  169 ;  Schneider,  (Ulloa,  Mem.  Phttos. 
II.,  p.  457)  says  they  were  vaulted,  (ceintrees.} 


CHARACTER  OF  INDIAN  DEFENCES.         161 

Similar  works  exist  near  the  village  of  Banos,  in  Huamalies, 
occupying  the  summits  of  two  mountains,  placed  opposite  to 
each  other  on  either  side  of  the  river.  The  sides  of  the  moun 
tains  are  divided  into  galleries,  ranged  one  above  the  other,  in 
some  places  formed  by  artificial  walls,  and  in  others  cut  in  the 
solid  rock.*  On  the  road  from  Potosi  to  Tacua,  are  the  ruins 
of  an  ancient  Peruvian  city.  Upon  one  side,  it  is  protected  by 
a  deep  ravine,  and  on  the  other  by  a  rampart,  the  stones  com 
posing  which  are  dovetailed  together  in  a  very  singular  man 
ner.  Within  the  walls  was  a  citadel  or  place  of  last  resort,  f 
Ulloa  mentions  tfre  ruins  of  a  fortified  palace  of  the  Incas, 
near  Patasilca,  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles  from  Lima. 
"  The  ruins  are  of  very  great  extent :  the  walls  are  of  tempered 
clay,  and  about  six  feet  thick.  The  principal  building  stood 
upon  an  eminence,  but  the  walls  were  continued  to  the  foot  of 
it,  like  regular  circumvallations :  the  ascent  wound  round  the 
hill  leaving  many  angles  which  probably  served  as  outworks  to 
defend  the  place.  It  is  called  Fortalesa,  and  is  supposed  to 
have  been  a  frontier  point,  during  the  time  of  the  Incas."J 

There  are  also  evidences  that,  on  the  frontiers  of  certain  por 
tions  of  Peru,  were  constructed  walls  similar  in  design  to  that 
of  Tlascalla.  Such  a  one  is  said  to  cross  the  valley  of  Guarmey.$ 
Analogous  works  exist  in  Chili.  || 

The  fortifications  of  Central  America  are  very  much  of  the 
same  character  with  those  already  described.  Juarros  gives  an 
account  of  one  of  these  situated  upon  the  river  Socoleo.  "  The 
approach,  as  usual  to  such  places,  was  by  a  single  entrance,  and 
that  so  narrow  as  scarcely  to  permit  a  horseman  to  pass  it. 
From  the  entrance  there  ran  on  the  right  hand  a  parapet  raised 
on  the  berme  of  the  fosse,  extending  along  nearly  the  whole  of 

*  Mercuric,  Peruano,  vol.  V.,  p.  259 ;  Stevenson,  vol.  II.,  p.  100. 

f  Andrews'  Travels  in  S.  A.,  vol.  II.,  p.  161. 

J  Ulloa,  vol.  II.,  p.  27;  Stevenson,  vol.  II.,  p.  23. 

§  Ruschenberger,  p.  361. 

||  Frezier,  p.  262;  Molina,  vol.  II.,  pp.  10,  68. 


162         CHARACTER  OF  INDIAN  DEFENCES. 

that  side  ;  several  vestiges  of  the  counterscarp  and  curtain  of 
the  walls  still  remain,  besides  parts  of  other  works,  the  use  of 
which  cannot  now  be  easily  discovered.  In  the  court-yard  there 
stood  some  large  columns  upon  which  were  placed  quantities  of 
pine-wood,  that  being  set  on  fire,  gave  light  at  night  to  the  sur 
rounding  neighborhood.  The  citadel  of  this  great  fortification 
was  in  the  form  of  a  square  graduated  pyramid,  rising  twelve 
or  fourteen  yards  from  the  base  to  the  platform  on  the  top, 
which  was  sufficient  to  admit  of  ten  soldiers  upon  a  side,  etc. 
Every  part  of  this  fortress  was  constructed  of  hewn  stones  of 
great  size ;  one  of  which  being  displaced  measured  three  yards 
in  length  by  one  in  breadth."* 

The  ruins  of  Uxmal  in  Yucatan,  described  by  Mr.  Stephens, 
are  represented  to  be  inclosed  by  a  wall  of  loose  stones,  f  It 
was  not,  however,  completely  traced  by  that  gentleman.  In 
closing  the  ruins  of  Tuloom  he  found  a  well -constructed  wall  of 
regular  outline. 

It  forms  three  sides  of  a  parallelogram,  the  fourth  side  to 
ward  the  sea,  being  bounded  by  a  precipitous  cliff.  "  It  is  of 
rude  construction,  and  composed  of  rough,  flat  stones  laid  upon 
each  other  without  mortar  or  cement  of  any  kind,  and  varies 
from  eight  to  thirteen  feet  in  thickness.  The  south  side  has 
two  gateways,  each  about  five  feet  wide.  At  the  distance  of 
six  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  the  wall  turns  at  right  angles  and 
runs  parallel  to  the  sea.  At  the  angle,  elevated  so  as  to  give 
a  commanding  view,  is  a  watch-tower,  twelve  feet  square,  which 
has  two  doorways.  The  interior  is  plain,  and  against  the  back 
wall  is  a  small  altar,  at  which  the  guard  might  offer  up  prayers 
for  the  preservation  of  the  city.  The  west  line  parallel  with 
the  sea,  has  a  single  gateway ;  at  the  angle  is  another  watch- 
tower,  like  that  before  described,  and  the  wall  then  runs  straight 
to  the  sea.  The  whole  circuit  is  2800  feet."| 

*  Juarros'  Hist.  Guat.,  p.  462. 

f  Stephens'  Yucatan,  vol.  I.,  pp.  165,  230. 

|  Stephens'  Yucatan,  vol.  II.,  p.  396. 


CHARACTER  OF  INDIAN  DEFENCES.          163 

The  remarkable  structures  within  this  work,  seem  to  be  of  a 
religious  origin,  suggesting  the  probability  that  it  was  designed 
as  a  sacred  inclosure.  It  is  not  impossible  that,  as  in  the  case 
of  some  of  the  works  of  the  Aztecs,  it  was  the  citadel  of  the 
surrounding  population,  within  which,  in  times  of  danger,  they 
sought  the  protection  and  assistance  of  their  gods.  The  forti 
fied  hill  in  the  vicinity  of  Grenville,  Ohio,  has  a  small  sacred 
inclosure  within  its  walls.  May  it  not  furnish  a  rude  type  of 
the  more  imposing  work  above  described,  and  denote  a  similar 
practice  ?* 

*  "  Ancient  Monuments  of  Mississippi  Valley,"  Plate  IX. 


CHAPTER     IX. 

STONE   HEAPS STONES   OF   MEMORIAL STONE    CIRCLES. 

WE  have  noticed,  on  a  preceding  page,  the  fact  that  occasional 
large  heaps  of  stone,  the  work  of  the  aborigines,  are  to  be  found 
in  the  State  of  New  York.  Particular  reference  was  made  to 
one  in  Scoharie  county,  which  is  described  more  in  detail  in 
Howe's  Gazetteer  of  New  York,  as  follows : 

"  Between  Scoharie  creek  and  Caughnawaga  was  an  Indian 
trail,  and  near  it,  in  the  north  bounds  of  Scoharie  county,  has 
been  seen,  from  time  immemorial,  a  large  pile  of  stones,  which 
has  given  the  name  of  c  stone  heap  patent '  to  the  tract  on 
which  it  occurs,  as  may  be  seen  from  ancient  deeds.  Indian 
tradition  says  that  a  Mohawk  murdered  his  brother  on  this  spot, 
and  that  this  heap  was  erected  to  commemorate  the  event. 
Every  individual  who  passed  that  way  added  a  stone  to  the 
pile,  in  propitiation  of  the  spirit  of  the  victim."* 

Dwight,  in  his  travels,  mentions  a  heap  of  stones  of  this  de 
scription,  which  was  raised  over  the  body  of  a  warrior  killed  by 
accident,  on  the  old  Indian  trail  between  Hartford  and  Farm- 
ington,  the  seat  of  the  Tunxis  Indians,  in  Connecticut.  Rude 
heaps  of  stone  of  similar  character  are  of  frequent  occurrence 
throughout  the  west.  A  very  remarkable  one  occurs  upon  the 
dividing  ridge  between  Indian  and  Crooked  creeks,  about  ten 
miles  south-west  of  Chilicothe,  Ohio.  It  is  immediately  by 
the  side  of  the  old  Indian  trail  which  led  from  the  Shawanoe 
towns,  in  the  vicinity  of  Chilicothe,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Scioto 
River  ;  and  consists  of  a  simple  heap  of  stones,  rectangular  in 

*  Howe's  Gaz.  of  New  York,  p.  278. 


STONE    HEAPS STONES    OF    MEMORIAL,    ETC.          165 

form,  and  measuring  one  hundred  and  six  feet  in  length  by 
sixty  in  width,  and  between  three  and  four  in  height.  The 
stones  are  of  all  sizes,  from  those  not  larger  than  a  man's  head, 
to  those  which  can  hardly  be  lifted.  They  are  such  as  are 
found  in  great  abundance  on  the  hill  slopes — the  fragments  or 
debris  of  the  outcropping  sandstone  layers.  Some  are  water- 
worn,  showing  that  they  were  brought  up  from  the  creek,  near 
ly  half  a  mile  distant :  and  although  they  were  disposed  with 
no  regularity  in  respect  to  each  other,  the  heap  was  originally 
quite  symmetrical  in  outline.  The  stones  have  been  thrown 
out  from  the  centre,  and  an  excavation  of  considerable  depth 
made  in  the  earth  beneath,  but  without  results.  The  heap  is 
situated  upon  the  highest  point  of  land  traversed  by  the  Indian 
trail :  upon  the  water  shed,  or  dividing  ridge  between  the 
streams  which  flow  into  Brush  creek  upon  the  one  side  and  the 
Scioto  River  on  the  other. 

Another  heap  of  stones  of  like  character,  but  somewhat  less 
in  size,  is  situated  upon  the  top  of  a  high,  narrow  hill  overlook 
ing  the  small  valley  of  Salt  creek,  near  Tarlton,  Pickaway 
county,  Ohio.  It  is  remarkable  as  having  large  numbers  of 
crumbling  human  bones,  to  say  nothing  of  living  black  snakes 
intermingled,  apparently  without  order,  with  the  stones.  A 
very  extensive  prospect  is  had  from  this  point.  Upon  the  slope 
of  a  lower  hill  near  by,  appears  to  have  been  formerly  an  Indian 
village.  Many  rude  relics  are  uncovered  on  the  spot,  by  the 
plough. 

Smaller,  and  very  irregular  heaps  are  frequent  among  the 
hills.  These  do  not  generally  embrace  more  than  a  couple 
cart-loads  of  stone,  and  almost  invariably  cover  a  skeleton. 
Occasionally  the  amount  of  stones  is  much  greater.  Rude 
implements  are  sometimes  found  with  the  skeletons.  A  num 
ber  of  such  graves  have  been  observed  near  Sinking  Springs, 
Highland  county,  Ohio ;  also  in  Adams  county  in  the  same 
State,  and  in  Greenup  county,  Kentucky,  at  a  point  nearly  op 
posite  the  town  of  Portsmouth  on  the  Ohio. 


166          STONE    HEAPS STONES    OF    MEMORIAL,    ETC. 

A  stone  heap,  somewhat  resembling  those  here  described, 
though  considerably  less  in  size,  is  situated  on  the  Wateree 
River,  in  South  Carolina,  near  the  mouth  of  Beaver  creek,  a 
few  miles  above  the  town  of  Camden.  It  is  thus  described  in 
a  MS.  letter  from  Dr.  Win.  Blanding,  late  of  Camden,  ad 
dressed  to  Dr.  S.  Gr.  Morton,  of  Philadelphia  : 

"  The  land  here  rises  for  the  distance  of  one  mile,  and  forms 
a  long  hill  from  north  to  south.  On  the  north  point  stands  what 
is  called  the  '  Indian  Grave.'  It  is  composed  of  many  tons  of 
small  round  stones,  from  one  to  four  and  five  pounds  weight. 
The  pile  is  thirty  feet  long  from  east  to  west,  twelve  feet  broad, 
and  five  feet  high,  so  situated  as  to  command  an  extensive  view 
of  the  adjacent  country,  as  far  as  '  Rocky  Mount,'  a  distance 
of  twenty  miles  above,  and  of  the  river  for  more  than  three 
miles,  even  at  its  lowest  stages." 

A  large  stone  heap  was  observed,  a  number  of  years  since,  on 
a  prairie,  in  one  of  the  central  counties  of  Tennessee.  "  Upon 
removing  the  stones,  near  the  centre  of  the  pile,  was  found  a 
stone  box,  six  feet  long  and  three  broad,  formed  by  joining 
with  care  the  edges  of  flat  stones.  Within  it  was  found  the 
decayed  skeleton  of  a.  man.  No  weapons  or  other  relics  ac 
companied  the  skeleton." 

The  smaller  stone  heaps  of  the  West  seem  to  have  been  con 
nected  with  some  system  of  burial,  and  were  perhaps  designed 
to  protect  the  bodies  of  those  who  casually  met  their  death 
among  the  hills,  or  in  some  rencounter  with  an  enemy,  from 
the  attacks  of  wild  animals,  as  well  as  to  point  out  their  places 
of  sepulture.*  It  is  still  customary  among  some  of  the  Indian 

*  "  To  perpetuate  the  memory  of  any  remarkable  warriors  killed  in  the 
woods,  I  must  here  observe  that  every  Indian  traveler,  as  he  passes  that 
way,  throws  a  stone  on  the  place,  according  as  he  likes  or  dislikes  the 
occasion  or  manner  of  death  of  the  deceased.  In  the  woods  we  often 
see  innumerable  heaps  of  small  stones  in  these  places,  where,  according 
to  tradition,  some  of  their  distinguished  people  were  either  killed  or 
buried,  till  the  bones  could  be  gathered ;  then  they  add  Pelion  on  Ossa, 


STONE    HEAPS STONES    OF    MEMORIAL,    ETC.  167 

tribes  to  carefully  envelope  the  bodies  of  their  dead,  and  place 
them  in  trees,  or  on  scaffoldings,  for  the  same  purpose. 

Occasionally,  after  interment  in  the  earth,  stakes  are  driven 
around  the  graves  for  the  sake  of  protection.  Whether  the 
large  heap  first  described  was  raised  over  the  body  of  some 
distinguished  savage,  or  as  a  simple  mark  or  monument  upon 
the  Shawanoe  trail,  it  is  difficult  to  determine.  The  absence 
of  human  remains  would  seem  to  favor  the  latter  conclusion. 
However  this  may  be,  there  is  certainly  nothing  very  remark 
able  in  the  existence  of  these  monuments.  The  superstitions 
of  the  Indians  exhibited  themselves  in  a  thousand  forms.  A 
spot  remarkable  in  any  respect,  seldom  failed  to  arouse  their 
superstitions,  or  attract  their  reverence,  and  to  become  in  time 
a  great  "  medicine,"  or  mystery.  According  to  Acosta,  the 
Peruvians  had  a  superstitious  practice  of  casting  a  stone  as  an 


still  increasing  each  heap,  as  a  lasting  monument  and  honor  to  them, 
and  an  incentive  to  great  actions." — Adair's  History  of  the  American  In 
dians,  p.  184. 

"  At,  or  soon  after  burial,  the  relations  of  the  deceased  sometimes 
cover  the  grave  with  stones,  and,  for  years  after,  occasionally  resort  to 
it,  and  mourn  over,  or  recount  the  merits  and  virtues  of  the  silent  ten 
ant." — Hunter's  Narrative,  p.  309. 

"  They  have  other  sorts  of  tombs  ;  as  when  ah  Indian  is  slain,  in  that 
very  place  they  make  a  heap  of  stones,  (or  sticks,  when  stones  are  not 
to  be  found :)  to  this  memorial,  every  Indian  that  passes  by,  adds  a 
stone,  to  augment  the  heap  in  respect  to  the  deceased  hero." — Lawson's 
Carolina,  (1709,)  p.  22. 

LONG  describes  an  Indian  burial-place  near  Piqua,  Ohio,  where  the 
dead  were  placed  upon  the  bare  limestone  rocks,  and  covered  over  with 
slabs  of  stone.  No  order  was  displayed  in  the  arrangement  of  the 
graves.  A  cemetery  of  like  character,  in  which  each  grave  is  marked 
by  a  heap  of  stones,  is  said  to  exist  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsyl 
vania. 

The  Bheels  of  the  mountain  district  of  India  still  raise  cairns,  or  rude 
piles  of  stones,  over  the  bodies  of  their  chiefs,  the  tops  of  which,  at  par 
ticular  periods,  is  covered  with  oil,  red  lead  and  vermillion.— Cokman's 
Hind.  Myth.,  p.  271. 


168  STONE    HEAPS STONES    OF    MEMORIAL,    ETC. 

offering,  upon  any  remarkable  spot,  at  the  crossings  of  paths, 
and  on  the  tops  of  hills  or  mountains.  "  It  is  therefore,"  ob 
serves  our  authority,  "  that  we  find  by  the  highways,  great 
heaps  of  stones  offered,  and  such  other  things."*  So,  too,  an 
early  writer  on  the  Housatonic  Indians  observes  :  "  There  is  a 
large  heap  of  stones,  I  suppose  ten  cart-loads,  in  the  way  to 
W^anhktukook.  which  the  Indians  have  thrown  together  as  they 
passed  by  the  place :  for  it  used  to  be  their  custom,  every  time 
one  passed  by,  to  throw  a  stone  upon  it :  but  what  was  the  end 
thereof  they  cannot  tell,  only  that  their  fathers  used  to  do  it, 
and  they  do  it  because  it  was  the  custom  of  their  fathers. 
Some  suppose  it  was  designed  as  an  expression  of  their  grati 
tude  to  the  Supreme  Being,  that  he  preserved  them  to  see  the 
place  again."f  The  "  Elk-horn  pyramid,"  on  the  upper  Mis 
souri,  is  regarded  with  deep  reverence,  and  no  hunter  passes  it 
without  adding  another  horn  to  its  proportions.  This  accumu 
lation  has  been  going  on  for  a  long  period,  and  the  pile  is  now 
reported  to  be  not  far  from  fifteen  feet  high,  and  of  correspond 
ing  lateral  proportions.  It  is  composed  entirely  of  elk-horns, 
many  of  which  are  to  be  found  upon  the  adjacent  prairies.  An 
instance  of  this  practice  of  accumulating  stones  and  other  ma 
terials,  is  mentioned  by  Mr.  Schoolcraft,  in  which  the  offerings 
consisted  of  sticks  and  twigs.  :f  It  is  highly  probable  that  most 
of  the  great  heaps  of  stone  scattered  over  the  country,  owe 
their  origin  to  this  practice.  It  is  further  possible  that  some 
of  them  may  have  originated  in  a  practice  mentioned  by  Bev 
erly,  who  states  that  the  Indians  sometimes  signalized  the 
conclusion  of  peace,  or  some  other  memorable  action,  by  bury 
ing  a  tomahawk,  and  raising  over  it  a  heap  of  stones.  §  If  such 
was  the  fact,  "  burying  the  hatchet,"  was  not  a  mere  rhetorical 
figure  among  the  Indian  orators. 

*  Acosta,  in  Purchas,  vol.  III.,  p.  1028. 

t  Hopkins'  Memoirs  of  Housatonic  Indians,  p.  11. 

^  Indian  in  his  Wigwam,  p.  78. 

§  Hist.  Virginia,  p.  164. 


STONE    HEAPS STONES    OF    MEMORIAL,    ETC.  169 

Customs,  similar  in  all  respects  to  those  described  as  exist 
ing  among  the  Indians,  prevailed  among  the  ancient  Celts,  and 
have  hardly  become  extinct  among  the  Highlanders  of  Scot 
land.  A  cairn,  or  heap  of  stones,  was  the  common  monument 
of  the  dead,  and  hence  arose  the  saying,  "  I'll  add  a  stane  to 
yer  cairn"  in  acknowledgment  of  a  service,  or  in  token  of  re 
gard.  Two  motives,  however,  appear  to  have  existed  for  throw 
ing  a  stone,  in  passing,  to  a  cairn.  In  the  one  case,  says 
Logan,  it  arose  from  respect  to  the  deceased,  whose  memory  it 
was  wished  to  prolong  by  increasing  the  size  of  his  funeral 
mount.  The  soul  of  the  departed  was  believed  to  be  pleased 
with  this  mark  of  attention.  The  other  motive  for  throwing 
stones  to  augment  a  cairn  was,  to  mark  with  execration  the 
burial-place  of  a  criminal ;  a  practice  which,  according  to  Dr. 
Smith,  was  instituted  by  the  Druids.  "  It  is  curious,"  con 
tinues  the  above  author,  "  that  the  same  practice  should  result 
from  views  so  different ;  yet  the  fact  is  so,  and  the  author  has 
often,  in  the  days  of  his  youth,  passed  the  grave  of  a  suicide, 
on  which,  according  to  custom,  he  never  failed  to  fling  a  stone." 

At  the  death  of  Absalom,  we  are  informed,  in  execration  of 
his  memory,  his  body  was  cast  in  a  pit,  and  a  heap  of  stones 
raised  over  him.  "  And  they  took  Absalom,  and  cast  him  into 
a  great  pit  in  the  wood,  and  laid  a  very  great  heap  of  stones 
upon  him.  and  all  Israel  fled,  every  one  to  his  tent."  (2  Sam 
uel  xviii.  17.)  A  similar  expression  of  popular  hatred  was  vis 
ited  upon  the  avaricious  Achan.  "  And  all  Israel  stoned  him 
with  stones,  and  they  raised  over  him  a  great  heap  of  stones." 
(Joshua  vii.) 

We  also  learn  from  the  Scriptures  that  the  ancients  erected 
heaps  of  stone  to  mark  spots  signalized  by  some  remarkable 
event.  Thus,  Jacob  raised  a  pillar  of  stone  to  commemorate 
his  wonderful  dream.  The  spot  where  he  parted  with  his 
brother  Esau,  was  marked  in  a  like  manner.  The  priests 
caused  a  mound  of  stones  to  be  erected  where  the  Israelites 
crossed  the  river  Jordan,  and  Grilgal,  their  second  encampment, 
8 


170  STONE    HEAPS STONES    OF    MEMORIAL,    ETC. 

was  indicated  by  a  heap  of  stones.  Greek  historians  inform 
us  that  a  similar  custom  existed  among  that  people,  derived 
from  their  ancestors  Every  memorable  field  of  battle,  through 
out  Greece,  has  its  tumulus  or  polyandrum. 

The  ancients  erected  heaps  of  stones  in  the  cross-ways,  and 
every  traveler  augmented  it  by  adding  a  stone.  These  were 
termed  Thermula.  The  pilgrims  of  the  Middle  Ages  did  the 
same,  when  they  came  within  view  of  the  end  of  their  journeys ; 
the  piles  which  they  erected  were  called  Montjoyes.  In  the 
passes  of  the  Alps,  rude  heaps  of  stone  are  visible,  marking 
the  spot  of  some  deed  of  violence,  or  of  some  catastrophe. 
Similar  heaps  were  often  used  to  designate  boundaries  ;  and, 
in  the  early  explorations  of  the  western  parts  of  our  own  coun 
try,  were  erected  to  mark  the  corners  of  surveys,  or  "  loca 
tions."  The  bounds  between  Jacob  and  Laban  were  thus 
indicated.  "  And  Laban  said  to  Jacob,  Behold  this  heap,  and 
behold  this  pillar,  which  I  have  cast  up  betwixt  me  and  thee. 
This  heap  be  witness  and  this  pillar  be  witness  that  I  will  not 
pass  over  this  heap  to  thee,  and  thou  shalt  not  pass  over  this 
heap  and  this  pillar  unto  me,  for  harm."  ( Genesis  xxxi.  51,  52.) 

We  have  an  instance,  mentioned  by  Lieut.  Emory,  in  which 
an  erect  stone  was  raised  by  some  of  the  Indians  of  Northern 
Mexico  in  commemoration  of  a  treaty  or  compact.  He  says, 
"  At  this  point,  (on  the  plains  bordering  the  Moro  River,  New 
Mexico,)  we  were  attracted  to  the  left  by  an  object  which  we 
supposed  to  be  an  Indian ;  but  on  corning  up  to  it,  we  found  it 
to  be  a  sandstone  block  standing  on  end,  surmounted  by  ano 
ther  shorter  block.  A  mountain  man,  versed  in  these  signs, 
said  it  was  in  commemoration  of  a  talk  and  friendly  smoke 
between  some  two  or  three  tribes  of  Indians."* 

The  superstitions  of  the  Indians  extended  to  remarkable 
objects  in  nature.  A  tree  or  stone  of  singular  form  seldom 
failed  to  command  their  reverence.  A  stone  which,  from  the 

*  Military  Keconnoissance  from  U.  S.  to  California,  p.  24. 


STONE    HEAPS STONES    OF    MEMORIAL,    ETC. 


171 


action  of  natural  causes,  has  assumed  the  general  form  of  a 
man  or  an  animal,  is  especially  an  object  of  regard  ;  and  the 
fancied  resemblance  is  often  heightened  by  artificial  means,  as 
by  daubs  of  paint,  indicating  the  eyes,  mouth  and  other  fea 
tures.  Mr.  Schoolcraft  has  presented  the  public  with  sketches 
of  a  number  of  these  rude  idols,  all  of  which  were  found  to  the 


FIG.  35. 

northwest  of  the  Great  Lakes.  Number  1  in  the  cut  was 
brought  to  the  Indian  Office  at  Mackinaw  in  1839 :  number  2 
was  found  on  Thunder  Bay  Island  in  Lake  Huron  in  1820, 
where  it  had  been  set  up  under  a  tree.  The  island  is  small 
and  barren,  and  in  its  solitary,  desolate  aspect  furnished  a 
place  eminently  appropriate,  according  to  the  Indian  supersti 
tion,  for  the  residence  of  a  Manitou  or  spirit.  Number  3  was 
found  by  Mr.  Schoolcraft 
about  one  thousand  miles 
above  the  Falls  of  St.  An 
thony,  on  the  Mississippi. 
It  had  been  set  up  in  a 
shadowy  nook,  and  was  al 
most  entirely  concealed  by 
shrubbery.*  Figure  36,  No. 
1,  was  found  in  East  Hart 
ford,  Connecticut,  and  depo-  FIG.  36. 


*  Indian  in  his  Wigwam,  p.  292. 


172  STONE    HEAPS — STONES    OF    MEMORIAL,    ETC. 

sited  in  the  Museum  of  Yale  College  in  1788.  It  is  thirty-one 
inches  high  and  seventeen  wide  ;  the  material  is  white  granite. 
It  is  said  the  Indians  placed  their  dead  before  it  previous  to 
burial,  and  afterward  returned  and  danced  around  it.*  Number 
2  was  found  at  the  base  of  a  mound  in  South  Carolina,  and  is 
now  in  the  possession  of  Dr.  S.  Gr.  Morton,  of  Philadelphia. 
It  is  small,  not  more  than  six  inches  in  height,  and  has  evi 
dently  undergone  some  artificial  modification. 

Single  erect  stones,  or  a  group  of  them,  of  large  size,  in  iso 
lated  situations  were  also  venerated.  They  are  sometimes 
covered  with  rude  figures,  and  sacrifices  made  at  their  base. 
Lewis  and  Clark,  Prince  Maximilian,  and  other  travelers  men 
tion  some  of  these,  which  in  size  and  general  disposition  closely 
resemble  the  Celtic  cromlech.^  Catlin  remarked  a  singular 
group  of  five  large  boulders,  at  the  Coteau  des  Prairies,  which 
were  regarded  with  the  utmost  veneration  by  the  Indians. 
None  venture  to  approach  nearer  than  three  or  four  rods,  and 
sacrifices  are  made  in  humble  attitude,  by  throwing  tobacco 
toward  them  from  a  distance.^  It  is  well  known  that  among 
the  nations  of  the  East,  a  plain,  unwrought  stone,  placed  in  the 
ground,  was  an  emblem  of  the  generative  or  procreative  powers 
of  nature.  In  India  such  stones  are  very  abundant,  and  are 
denominated  Linghams ;  and  in  Central  America  the  same 
symbol  was  extensively  adopted.  It  is  not  improbable  that 
the  erection  of  an  obelisk  of  wood  in  the  centre  of  the  conse 
crated  areas  of  the  Creeks,  as  described  by  Bartram,  on  page 
121  of  "Ancient  Monuments  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,"  had 
its  origin  in  the  primitive  practice  of  erecting  these  symbolical 
stones  ;  which  in  India,  as  also  in  Central  America,  almost 
invariably  occupy  the  centres  of  the  sacred  inclosures.  Stones 
arranged  in  a  circle,  around  a  central  larger  one,  or  amid 

*  Trans.  Am.  Acad.  Arts  and  Sciences,  vol.  III.,  p.  192. 
f  Lewis  and  Clark,  pp.  79,  83 ;  Prince  Maximilian's  Travels,  pp.  381, 
417. 
J  N.  A.  Indians,  vol.  II.,  p.  202. 


STONE    HEAPS STONES    OF    MEMORIAL,    ETC.  173 

several  disposed  in  a  peculiar  manner,  was  a  very  primitive 
form  of  the  solar  temple.  The  remains  of  these  temples,  not 
withstanding  their  rudeness,  constitute  some  of  the  most  im 
posing  and  interesting  monuments  of  the  Old  World.  If  we 
may  credit  Beverly,  the  Indians  of  Virginia  not  only  erected 
sacred  stones,  but  had  sacred  inclosures,  corresponding  very 
nearly  with  the  ancient  stone  circles.  He  says  :  "  The  Indians 
have  posts  fixed  around  their  Quioccasan  (temple  of  the  idol), 
which  have  men's  faces  carved  upon  them,  and  are  painted. 
They  are  likewise  set  up  around  some  of  their  other  celebrated 
places,  and  make  a  circle  for  them  to  dance  about  in,  on  certain 
solemn  occasions.  They  very  often  set  up  pyramidal  stones 
and  pillars,  which  they  color  with  puccoon  and  other  sorts  of 
paint,  and  which  they  adorn  with  peak,  roenoke,  etc.  To  these 
they  pay  all  outward  signs  of  worship  and  devotion,  not  as  to 
God,  but  as  they  are  hieroglyphics  of  the  permanency  and  im 
mutability  of  the  Deity :  because  these,  of  all  sublunary  bodies, 
are  the  least  subject  to  decay  or  change  ;  they  also,  for  the 
same  reason,  keep  baskets  of  stones  in  their  cabins."* 

Besides  the  rough,  upright  and  wrought  stones,  constituting 
inclosures,  or  occupying  the  areas  of  sacred  structures,  in  Cen 
tral  America  and  Yucatan,  accounts  of  which  are  given  by  Mr. 
Stephens,  we  have  the  intelligence  of  the  recent  discovery  of 
monuments,  in  New  Grenada,  (South  America,)  which  exhibit 
a  still  closer  relationship  to  the  primitive  stone  circles  and 
other  analogous  structures  of  the  other  continent.  The  sub 
joined  account  is  given  in  a  letter  from  Signer  Yelez,  dated 
Bogota,  December,  1846: 

"  In  traversing,  at  different  times,  the  province  of  Tunja, 
with  the  sole  purpose  of  examining  the  country,  I  acquired 
some  vague  information  respecting  the  presumed  existence,  in 
the  province  of  Leiva,  of  some  ruins  belonging  to  a  temple  or 
a  palace  of  the  times  of  the  ancient  Indians.  As  the  account 


*  Hist.  Virginia,  p.  184. 


174 


STONE    HEAPS STONES    OF    MEMORIAL,    ETC. 


varied  each  time  that  I  attempted  to  inform  myself  by  inqui 
ries,  as  to  the  existence  of  remains  of  buildings  anterior  to  the 
conquest,  and  as  no  one  affirmed  that  he  had  seen  them  himself, 
I  began  to  doubt  the  truth  of  the  report.  Nevertheless,  as  the 
subject  was  one  that  interested  me  exceedingly,  I  undertook  a 
journey,  in  the  month  of  June,  1846,  in  spite  of  the  time  and 
trouble  it  would  necessarily  cost  me,  in  order  to  put  an  end  to 
my  uncertainty.  After  traversing  the  province  of  Leiva  in 
different  directions,  without  meeting  with  the  object  I  was  in 
search  of,  and  after  advancing  as  far  as  the  neighborhood  of 
Moniquira,  by  following  the  route  from  Gachantiva  to  this 
place,  across  a  beautiful  gently  sloping  plain  under  cultivation, 
I  discovered  a  large  stone,  which,  when  seen  some  distance  off, 
did  not  at  first  appear  as  if  wrought  by  the  hand  of  man.  On 
approaching  it,  I  found  it  was  a  sort  of  column,  4£  varas  in 
length  by  3£  in  diameter.  It  seemed  to  me  that  such  stones, 
although  rudely  wrought,  must  have  served  as  columns.  On 
examining  the  locality,  I  found,  scattered  here  and  there,  other 
stones  similar  to  the  first,  and  at  last,  13  stones  of  the  largest 
size,  ranged  as  in  a  circle  about  50  varas  in  circumference.  It 
appeared  to  me  that  they  must  have  proceeded  from  some  tem 
ple  or  palace,  extending  back  to  a  remote  period.  Some  of 
these  columns  have  a  flattened  shape  like  a  fish;  each  has 
notches  at  its  extremities,  which  show  clearly  what  means  were 
employed  for  making  fast  to  them,  and  drawing  them  from  the 
quarry  to  the  site  which  they  now  occupy. 

;'  But  now,  when  I  began  to  despair  of  meeting  with  the  ru 
ins  of  an  edifice,  which  was  the  main  object  of  my  journey,  some 
Indians  from  a  hut  pointed  out  to  me  a  spot  some  400  varas 
distant  from  the  thirteen  last-mentioned  columns.  I  imme 
diately  proceeded  thither,  and  great  indeed  was  my  joy  at  be 
holding  ruins  !  I  found  cylindrical  columns,  exceedingly  well 
wrought,  fixed  in  the  ground,  and  occupying  a  surface  45  varas 
long  by  22  broad.  These  ruins  extend,  in  the  direction  of 
their  length,  from  east  to  west ;  some  arranged  in  a  straight 


STONE    HEAPS STONES    OF    MEMORIAL,    ETC.  175 

line  running  in  the  same  direction,  with  this  peculiarity,  that 
the  columns  are  so  near  together  that  their  distance  from  each 
other  does  not  exceed  half  a  vara.  Their  circumference  also  is 
not  over  half  a  vara  (sic) ;  as  to  their  length,  it  could  not  be 
determined,  these  remains  being  so  much  damaged,  that  the 
highest  of  them  is  not  more  than  !•£  vara  above  ground;  others 
are  scarcely  visible,  the  ranges  to  which  they  belong  being  in 
terrupted.  The  diameter  of  these  columns  is  precisely  alike  ; 
they  resemble  each  other  exactly,  and  are  so  well  turned  into  a 
cylindrical  shape,  that  they  seemed  to  me  of  better  workman 
ship  than  those  now  made  use  of  at  Bogota ;  they  form,  by  their 
lightness  and  elegance,  a  striking  contrast  with  the  thirteen 
enormous  fragments  mentioned  above. 

"  It  is  impossible  to  affirm  that  the  edifice  in  question  was 
only  45  varas  long  and  22  broad,  because,  in  this  space,  the 
columns  touch  each  other.  Over  the  whole  extent  of  the  place, 
which  covers  a  considerable  surface,  there  are  scattered  numer 
ous  fragments  of  columns,  as  also  of  other  stones  which  appear 
to  have  been  wrought  on  one  of  their  faces.  At  a  distance  of 
100  varas,  I  also  found  a  spot  covered  with  brambles  and  a 
considerable  number  of  stones,  which,  from  a  cursory  examina 
tion,  I  concluded  to  have  been  wrought.  The  columns  which 
remain  sunk  in  the  ground,  are  about  twenty-nine  in  number. 

"  In  all  that  I  saw,  I  observed  no  trace  of  mortar,  lime,  or 
any  other  cement.  By  taking  up  some  of  these  columns,  some 
may,  perhaps,  be  found. 

"  The  examination  of  these  vestiges  made  a  deep  impression 
upon  me,  and  I  became  convinced  that  the  territory  which  con 
tains  them,  and  which  is  about  two  miles  in  extent,  must  have 
been  occupied  by  a  large  city — and,  as  I  conclude,  by  a  nation 
much  more  ancient  than  the  Muyscas. 

"  The  ignorance  which  has  always  reigned  in  the  province  of 
Tunja,  explains  the  little  attention  shown  to  monuments  so  in 
teresting,  and  so  worthy  of  being  studied.  The  inhabitants  of 
the  country  have  alone  been  acquainted  with  them  up  to  the 


176  STONE    HEAPS STONES    OF    MEMORIAL,    ETC. 

present  time ;  and  although  not  comparable  in  importance  and 
grandeur  to  those  which  have  been  discovered  in  Guatemala 
and  Yucatan,  they  nevertheless  attest  the  existence  of  ancient 
populations  already  far  advanced  in  civilization." 

Monuments  analogous  to  those  here  described,  are  found  on 
the  shores  of  Lake  Titicaca,  in  Peru.  Their  origin  is  lost  in 
obscurity,  and  they  are  supposed,  by  M.  De  Orbigny,  who  has 
carefully  investigated,  and  given  the  world  drawings  of  them 
to  have  been  the  work  of  a  race  anterior  to  the  Incas,  denoting, 
perhaps,  a  more  advanced  civilization  than  the  monuments  of 
Palenque.  They  have  been  described  by  a  number  of  the  early 
writers,  commencing  with  Pedro  de  Ceica,  one  of  the  followers 
of  Pizarro.  M.  De  Orbigny  speaks  of  them  as  follows :  u  These 
monuments  consist  of  a  mound  raised  nearly  a  hundred  feet, 
surrounded  with  pillars — of  temples  from  six  to  twelve  hundred 
feet  in  length,  opening  precisely  toward  the  east,  and  adorned 
with  colossal  angular  columns — of  porticoes  of  a  single  stone, 
covered  with  reliefs  of  skillful  execution,  though  of  rude  design, 
displaying  symbolical  representations  of  the  sun,  and  the  condor 
his  messenger — of  basaltic  statues  loaded  with  bas-reliefs,  in 
which  the  design  of  the  carved  head  is  half  Egyptian — and 
lastly,  of  the  interior  of  a  palace  formed  of  enormous  blocks  of 
rock  completely  hewn,  whose  dimensions  are  often  twenty-one 
feet  in  length,  twelve  in  breadth,  and  six  in  thickness.  In  the 
temples  and  palaces,  the  portals  are  not  inclined  as  among  those 
of  the  Incas,  but  perpendicular ;  and  their  vast  dimensions, 
and  the  imposing  masses  of  which  they  are  composed,  surpass 
in  beauty  and  grandeur  all  that  were  afterward  built  by  the 
sovereigns  of  Cuzco."* 

*  L'Home  Americain,  torn.  I.,  p.  323. 


CHAPTER    X. 

COMPARISON  OF  THE  DEFENSIVE  STRUCTURES  OF  THE  AMERI 
CAN  ABORIGINES,  WITH  THOSE  OF  THE  PACIFIC  ISLANDERS, 
CELTS,  ETC. 

THE  resemblances  which  the  defensive  works  of  the  mound- 
builders,  as  well  as  of  the  later  and  existing  Indian  tribes,  bear 
to  those  of  many  other  rude  nations,  in  various  parts  of  the 
world,  are  no  less  striking  than  interesting.  These  resem 
blances  have,  however,  had  the  effect  of  misleading  superficial 
investigators,  or  those  who  have  only  paid  incidental  attention 
to  these  subjects.  They  have  hastily  inferred  that,  because 
certain  monuments  and  aboriginal  relics  of  the  United  States, 
such  as  entrenched  hills,  tumuli,  and  instruments  and  orna 
ments  of  stone  and  copper,  sustain  analogies,  in  some  instances 
almost  amounting  to  identities,  with  those  occurring  in  the 
British  Islands  and  on  the  steppes  of  Russia,  that  relations 
must  necessarily  have  existed  between  the  builders,  or  that 
they  had  a  common  origin.  These  resemblances  are,  never 
theless,  the  inevitable  results  of  similar  conditions ;  and  the 
ancient  Celts  and  Scythians,  the  American  Indians,  and  the 
natives  of  Australia,  built  their  hill-forts,  and  fashioned  their 
flint  arrow-points  and  stone  axes  in  like  manner,  because  they 
thus  accomplished  common  objects,  in  the  simplest  and  most 
obvious  mode.  Human  development  must  be,  if  not  in  pre 
cisely  the  same  channels,  in  the  same  direction,  and  must  pass 
through  the  same  stages.  We  cannot  be  surprised,  therefore, 
that  the  earlier,  as  in  fact  the  later  monuments  of  every  people, 
exhibit  resemblances  more  or  less  striking.  What  is  thus  true 
8* 


178  COMPARATIVE    VIEW    OF    THE 

physically,  or  rather  monumentally,  is  not  less  so  in  respect  to 
intellectual  and  moral  development.  And  it  is  not  to  be 
denied  that  the  want  of  a  sufficient  allowance  for  natural  and 
inevitable  coincidences,  has  led  to  many  errors  in  tracing  the 
origin  and  affinities  of  nations. 

We  find  not  only  in  the  British  islands,  but  also  in  the 
islands  of  the  Pacific  ocean,  the  almost  exact  counterparts  of 
the  defensive  structures  of  our  own  country.  "  The  places  of 
defence  of  the  Sandwich  Islanders,"  says  Ellis,  "  were  rocky 
fortresses  improved  by  art, — narrow  defiles  or  valleys,  shel 
tered  by  projecting  eminences, — passes  among  the  mountains, 
difficult  of  access,  yet  allowing  their  inmates  a  secure  and 
extensive  range,  and  an  unobstructed  passage  to  some  stream 
or  spring.  The  celebrated  Pare  (fortress),  in  Atehuru,  was 
of  this  kind  ;  the  mouth  of  the  valley  in  which  it  was  situated 
was  built  up  with  a  stone  wall,  and  those  who  fled  thither  for 
shelter  were  usually  able  to  repel  their  assailants. 

"  Several  of  these  places  are  very  extensive  ;  that  at  Maeva, 
in  Huahine,  near  Mouna  Tabui,  is  probably  the  best  in  the 
islands.  It  is  a  square  of  about  half  a  mile  on  each  side,  and 
incloses  many  acres  of  ground  well  stocked  with  bread-fruit, 
containing  several  springs,  and  having  within  its  precincts  the 
principal  temple  of  their  tutelar  deity.  The  walls  are  of  solid 
stone-work,  twelve  feet  in  height.  On  the  top  of  the  walls, 
which  were  even  and  well  paved,  and  in  some  places  ten  or 
twelve  feet  thick,  the  warriors  kept  watch  and  slept.  Their 
houses  were  built  within,  and  it  was  considered  sufficiently 
large  to  contain  the  whole  population.  There  were  four  prin 
cipal  openings  in  the  wall,  at  regular  distances  from  each  other, 
that  at  the  west  being  called  the  King's  road.  They  were 
designed  for  ingress  and  egress  ;  and  during  a  siege,  were  built 
up  with  loose  stones,  when  it  was  considered  &pari  haabuea,  an 
impregnable  fortress."— (Ellis1  Polynesian  Researches,  vol.  I, 
pp.  313,  314.) 

The  New  Zealanders  were  not  deficient  in  defensive  skill. 


DEFENSIVE    STRUCTURES    OF    THE    ABORIGINES.       179 

Cook  describes  one  of  their  strongholds  or  Heppahs  at  length. 
His  account,  from  the  light  which  it  affords  as  to  the  probable 
manner  in  which  the  embankments  of  the  western  works  were 
surmounted,  is  subjoined  entire  : 

"  Near  this  place  is  a  high  point  or  peninsula  projecting  into 
the  river,  and  upon  it  are  the  remains  of  a  fort,  which  they  call 
Eppah  or  Heppah.  The  best  engineers  could  not  have  chosen 
a  situation  better  adapted  to  enable  a  small  number  to  defend 
themselves  against  a  greater.  The  steepness  of  the  cliffs  ren 
ders  it  wholly  inaccessible  from  the  water,  which  incloses  it  on 
three  sides ;  and,  to  the  land,  it  is  fortified  by  a  ditch,  and  a 
bank  raised  on  the  inside.  From  the  top  of  the  bank  to  the 
bottom  of  the  ditch  is  twenty-two  feet ;  the  ditch  on  the  out 
side  is  fourteen  feet  deep,  and  broad  in  proportion.  The  whole 
seemed  to  be  executed  with  great  judgment,  and  there  had 
been  a  row  of  palisadoes,  both  on  the  top  of  the  bank  and  along 
the  brink  of  the  ditch  on  the  outside  ;  those  on  the  outside 
had  been  driven  very  deep  in  the  ground,  and  were  inclined 
towards  the  ditch  so  as  to  project  over  it ;  but  of  these,  the 
thickest  only  were  left,  and  upon  them  were  evident  marks 
of  fire,  so  that  the  place  had  probably  been  taken  and  de 
stroyed  by  an  enemy.  If  occasion  should  make  it  necessary 
for  a  ship  to  winter  or  stay  here,  tents  might  be  built  in  this 
place,  which  is  sufficiently  spacious,  and  might  easily  be  made 
impregnable  to  the  whole  country." — (Cootts  Second  Voyage.) 

The  following  additional  particulars  respecting  the  construc 
tion  and  defence  of  the  Heppah,  by  a  later  writer,  and  a 
long  resident  of  New  Zealand,  may  serve  to  explain  some  of 
the  features  of  the  aboriginal  structures  of  our  own  country, 
as  also  the  probable  manner  in  which  they  were  defended. 

"  The  fortifications  of  the  natives  are  called  Pa  (fort),  or  E' 
Pa  (the  fort).  The  spots  chosen  for  these  defences  equally 
evince  sound  judgment  and  habitual  fear.  The  position  ac 
counted  as  best  adapted  for  the  purpose,  is  the  summit  of  a 
high  hill,  overlooking  the  surrounding  country,  or  a  mountain- 


IbO 


COMPARATIVE    VIEW    OF    THE 


ous  pass,  having  at  its  foot  a  river  or  running  stream.  Insular 
retreats,  distant  a, few  miles  from  the  main,  are  also  in  especial 
repute.  The  first  procedure  is  to  escarp  the  hill,  so  as  to 
render  the  ascent  difficult  and  dangerous  to  a  foe.  Remains 
of  such  works  are  to  be  found  on  every  remarkable  elevation 
throughout  the  country.  The  further  defences  consist  of  two, 
sometimes  of  three  stout  stockades  of  irregularly  sized  posts 
and  poles,  varying  from  eight  to  thirty  feet  high  from  the 
ground,  into  which  they  are  thrust  from  three  to  seven  feet. 
The  large  posts  are  placed  about  a  dozen  feet  apart,  on  which 
are  often  carved  ludicrous  representations  of  men  and  animals ; 
the  spaces  between  the  poles  being  filled  with  stakes,  placed 
close  together,  and  bound  firmly  with  horizontal  pieces  by  a 
creeper  called  toro-toro,  which  is  tough  and  serviceable  for  a 
long  period.  These  strongholds  have  often  proved  superior  to 
any  force  the  natives  could  bring  against  them.  Few  instances 
have  occurred  of  a  Pa  being  taken  by  a  brisk  siege  ;  they  have 
failed  only  when  cowardice,  treachery,  or  improvidence  have 
aided  the  assailants.  The  stockades  that  inclose  the  fort  are 
within  a  few  feet  of  each  other,  the  outer  gate  or  entrance 
being  much  less  than  the  inner  opening,  which,  in  time  of  war, 
is  entered  by  stepping-stones  or  small  wooden  posts  like  a  turn 
stile.  The  width  is  so  contracted  as  scarcely  to  admit  a  large- 
sized  man,  and  between  the  fences  a  fosse  is  often  cut,  about 
four  feet  in  depth,  sheltering  the  besieged  while  discharging 
their  missiles  at  the  enemy.  A  more  confused  scene  can 
scarcely  be  conceived  than  a  Pa  during  a  siege.  Some  hun 
dreds  of  low  arched  huts  lie  huddled  together  without  regu 
larity,  streets,  or  paths  ;  among  these,  some  native  palaces  raise 
their  roofs,  and  platforms  (watas)  built  on  trees  for  the  preser 
vation  of  food,  and  not  for  defensive  purposes.  Mounds  are 
often  erected  during  a  night  by  an  enemy,  to  overlook  the 
interior  of  a  fort,  but  they  are  of  rare  occurrence.  The  huts 
near  the  tidpa  or  stockades  are  covered  with  earth  and  clay,  to 
render  them  secure  to  the  inmates. 


L_ 


DEFENSIVE    STRUCTURES    OF    THE    ABORIGINES.       181 

"  Some  forts  have  been  selected  with  consummate  skill, 
having  the  command  of  mountain  gorges  and  narrow  passes, 
which  might  keep  in  check  an  army,  if  defended  by  a  handful 
of  brave  men.  Various  contrivances  are  invented  to  render 
an  approach  to  a  fortification  difficult  of  access  Sometimes  a 
wooden  post  with  notches  for  the  feet  affords  the  only  means 
of  entering  the  fort.  The  Pa  formed  by  the  celebrated 
E'Ongi,  on  a  promontory  jutting  into  Lake  Moperri,  was  a 
work  of  much  merit,  and  added  greatly  to  the  consequence  of 
the  self-taught  engineer  among  his  countrymen." — (Pollock's 
New  Zealand,  vol.  II.,  p.  26.) 

It  appears  from  these  facts,  that  whatever  estimate  we  may 
place  upon  the  capabilities  of  the  Pacific  and  South  Sea 
Islanders  in  other  respects,  they  are,  in  the  language  of  a  close 
observer,  "  sufficiently  advanced  in  civilization  to  construct 
fortifications,  and  adapt  them  to  the  nature  of  the  country  in 
which  they  are  required." — (Laing's  Polynesian  Nations, 
p.  108.) 

The  defensive  works  of  Great  Britain  present  a  great  variety 
of  forms,  betraying  different  authors  and  different  eras  of  con 
struction.  First  of  all,  we  have  the  works  of  the  ancient 
Celts,  of  irregular  outline,  and  occupying  strong  natural  posi 
tions.  These  are  succeeded  by  the  fortified  camps  and  other 
defences  of  the  Roman  era,  which  are  followed  by  the  less 
regular  but  more  laborious  works  of  the  Belgic  or  Saxon 
period. 

During  the  earliest  or  Celtic  period,  a  large  proportion  of 
the  barrows  or  tumuli  scattered  over  the  islands  were  erected ; 
then,  also,  were  built  those  mysterious  circles  and  long  avenues 
which  bear  so  striking  a  resemblance  to  the  ancient  structures 
of  our  own  country. 

In  the  choice  of  their  military  positions,  the  ancient  Britons 
were  governed  by  the  same  obvious  rules  which  regulated  the 
mound-builders  and  the  American  Indians  generally — ad 
vantage  in  all  cases  being  taken  of  the  natural  features  of  the 


182 


COMPARATIVE    VIEW    OF    THE 


country.  Their  defences  were  usually  erected  on  headlands,  a 
single  wall  being  carried  along  the  brow  of  the  promontory, 
while  the  level  approaches  were  protected  by  a  succession  of 
embankments  and  ditches,  with  occasional  outworks  or  advance 
posts.  In  some  instances,  steep,  isolated  hills  were  selected, 
which  were  defended  by  a  series  of  concentric  embankments, 
completely  encircling  the  summit, — a  method  of  construction, 
as  we  have  already  seen,  most  frequently  adopted  by  the 
Peruvians. 

The  subjoined  examples  of  ancient  British  fortresses,  are 
reduced  from  plans  presented  by  Sir  R  C.  Hoare. 


FIG.  37. 

Fig.  37  is  situated  in  the  county  of  Wilts,  in  the  parish  of 
Colerne,  near  the  road  leading  to  Bath,  and  is  known  to 
British  antiquaries  under  the  different  titles  of  "  North  Wood  " 
and  "Bury  Wood  Camp."  "Its  shape  resembles  that  of  a 
heart,  its  pointed  part  resting  in  an  angle  between  two  streams. 


DEFENSIVE    STRUCTURES    OF     THE    ABORIGINES,       183 


Its  area  comprehends  twenty-five  acres,  and  it  appears  to  have 
had  only  one  entrance  toward  the  S.  W.,  and  that  placed 
exactly  in  the  centre  of  the  ramparts,  which  on  this  side  are 
double  and  rectilinear,  the  ground  being  level  and  most  acces 
sible  on  this  side.  On  the  N.  "W.  side,  near  the  outward  val 
lum,  but  within  the  area  of  the  camp,  is  a  small  earthen  work 
(a),  single  ditched,  with  an  entrance  to  the  west."  —  (Ancient 
Wiltshire,  vol.  II.,  p.  104.) 


'.  M  %  1--  ">}  "lie  j  .' 


FIG.  38. 

Fig.  38  is  situated  in  the  same  section  of  country  with  the 
work  just  described,  in  the  vicinity  of  Castle  Combe,  from 
which  it  is  named.  "  It  is  placed,"  says  Hoare,  "  in  a  very 
strange  and  picturesque  situation,  on  the  point  of  a  very  steep 
hill,  at  whose  base  flows  a  rapid  brook.  It  is  very  difficult  of 
access.  The  foundation  of  walls,  a  raised  mound,  and  other 
circumstances,  induce  me  to  attribute  to  it  a  Saxon  origin;  and 
history  reports  its  having  been  ravaged  by  the  Danes.  Its 
area  is  eight  and  a  half  acres ;  its  form  is  rather  oblong,  but 


184 


COMPARATIVE    VIEW    OF    THE 


wider  toward  the  north,  where  the  ground  is  most  easy  of 
access,  and  where  the  adit  into  the  camp  has  been  placed.  On 
entering  the  work  at  this  point,  and  proceeding  toward  the 
southern  extremity,  where  the  ground  is  most  precipitate,  we 
meet  with  three  lines  of  ramparts,  which  intersect  the  area  of 
the  camp,  through  two  of  which  there  is  an  opening ;  the 
eastern  point  was  fortified  by  a  raised  mound." — (Ib.  vol.  II., 
p.  101.) 

The  singular  vitrified  forts  of  Scotland  are  suggested  in  this 
connection.  They  appear  to  have  been  composed  of  loose  stones, 
which,  by  some  process  of  vitrification,  were  made  to  present  the 
outward  features  of  solid  rocks,  and  have  long  perplexed  anti 
quarians.  Some  have  attributed  the  vitrification  to  lightning, 
others  to  accidental  conflagration,  while  a  few,  more  daring  in 
their  speculations,  have  considered  them  the  craters  of  ex 
tinguished  volcanos !  It  has  also  been  supposed  that  vast  de 
fences  of  wood  once  surrounded  and  surmounted  the  ramparts, 
by  the  casual  burning  of  which  they  were  vitrified.  There  is, 
however,  every  reason  to  believe,  that  this  feature  was  the  result 
of  design,  although  it  is  not  easy  to  explain  how  it  was  produced. 
Dr.  Anderson,  in  a  communication  to  the  Society  of  Anti 
quarians,  in  1777,  gives  an  account  of  a  remarkable  work  of 
this  description,  called  Knockferral,  in  Ross-Shire.  It  is  placed 
on  a  high  ridge  of  an  oblong-shaped  hill,  very  steep  on  three 
sides,  the  walls  being  raised  on  the  edge  of  a  precipice  all  round, 
except  at  the  end  admitting  entrance  into  the  area,  the  inclosed 
space  of  nearly  an  acre  being  level :  features  readily  recognizable 
as  also  belonging  to  our  American  "  Hill  Forts."  The  ap 
proaches  to  this  work,  as  those  of  all  others  of  the  same  descrip 
tion,  are  strengthened  by  additional  ramparts.  "  Those  at  the 
entry,"  says  our  authority,  "  had  extended,  as  I  guessed,  about 
one  hundred  yards,  and  seemed  to  have  consisted  of  cross-walls, 
one  behind  the  other,  eight  or  ten  in  number;  the  ruins  of 
which  are  still  plainly  perceptible.  Through  each  of  these  walls 
there  must  have  been  a  gate,  so  that  the  besiegers  would  have 


DEFENSIVE    STRUCTURES    OF    THE    ABORIGINES. 


185 


been  under  the  necessity  of  forcing  each  of  these  gates  succes 
sively,  before  they  could  carry  the  fort ;  on  the  opposite  end  of 


Fio.  39. 


the  hill,  as  the  ground  is  considerably  steeper,  the  outworks 
seem  not  to  have  extended  above  twenty  yards.  Not  far 
from  the  farther  end,  was  a  well  (a),  now  filled  up.  The  wall 
all  around  from  the  inside  appears  to  be  only  a  mound  of  rub- 


186  COMPARATIVE    VIEW   OF    THE 

bish,  consisting  of  loose  stones :  the  vitrified  wall  is  only  to  be 
seen  from  the  outside.  Here  the  wall  is  covered  with  a  crust 
of  about  two  feet  in  thickness,  consisting  of  stones  immersed 
among  vitrified  matter ;  some  of  the  stones  being  half  fused 
themselves, — all  of  them  having  evidently  suffered  a  considera 
ble  heat.  The  crust  is  of  an  equal  thickness — of  about  two  feet 
— from  the  top  to  the  bottom,  so  as  to  lie  upon,  and  be  sup 
ported  by,  a  backing  of  loose  stones,  forming  in  section  an  acute 
angle.  Within  the  crust  of  the  vitrified  matter  is  another 
stratum  of  some  thickness,  parallel  to  the  former,  and  consist 
ing  of  loose  stones,  which  have  been  scorched  by  the  fire,  but 
present  no  marks  of  fusion." 

It  will  be  perceived  that  in  position,  mode  of  construction, 
etc.,  these  defences  are  indistinguishable  from  those  of  America. 
They  might  be  regarded,  so  far  as  their  apparent  features  are 
concerned,  as  the  work  of  the  same  people ;  yet  they  were  con 
structed  by  different  races,  separated  from  each  other  by  ocean 
wastes,  and  having  little  in  common,  except  the  possession  of 
those  savage  passions  which  have  reddened  every  page  of  the 
world's  history  with  blood.  They  serve  only  further  to  illus 
trate  how  naturally,  and  almost  of  necessity,  men  similarly  cir 
cumstanced  hit  upon  common  methods  of  meeting  their  wants, 
and  do  not  necessarily  establish  a  common  origin,  nor  a  constant 
or  casual  intercourse. 

The  Roman  camps,  vestiges  of  which  are  abundant  through 
out  England  and  on  the  continent,  also  bear  a  close  analogy  to 
a  large  class  of  the  more  regular  Western  earth-works,  though 
probably  differing  widely  from  them  in  the  purposes  for  which 
they  were  erected.  "  The  Romans,  from  the  earliest  period, 
paid  particular  attention  to  the  security  of  their  armies,  by 
choosing  the  best  situations  for  their  camps  that  the  circum 
stances  would  permit.  They  did  not,  however,  trust  to  natural 
strength  alone — making  it  an  invariable  rule,  wherever  they 
came,  to  inclose  themselves  within  an  entrenchment,  consisting 
of  a  rampart  and  ditch,  strengthened  with  palisades.  The  forti- 


DEFENSIVE    STRUCTURES    OF    THE    ABORIGINES.        187 

fications  were  of  a  stronger  or  weaker  character,  according  to 
the  nearness  of  an  enemy,  or  the  appearance  of  danger  with 
which  they  were  threatened  at  the  time.  The  form  of  the 
Roman  camp  was  square,  contrary  to  that  adopted  by  the 
Greeks,  who  made  theirs  round,  triangular,  or  of  any  other 
shape,  as  best  suited  the  nature  of  the  ground." — (Roy's  Mili 
tary  Antiquities  of  England,  p.  41.)  The  angles  of  the  Roman 
camp  were  rounded,  on  a  radius  of  about  sixty  feet,  and  there 
were  gateways  midway  upon  each  side  ;  sometimes,  if  the  camps 
were  of  large  size,  there  were  several  passages  upon  each  side. 
These  entrances  were  usually  protected  by  exterior  mounds,  or 
by  overlapping  walls,  and  occasionally  outworks  were  erected. 
The  temporary  camps,  castra  astiva,  or  those  not  designed  for 
constant  occupation,  had  comparatively  slight  entrenchments, 
the  ditch  being  about  six  feet  deep,  and  the  parapet  behind  it 
only  about  four  feet  high.  The  castra  stativa  were  generally 
much  smaller  than  the  temporary  camps,  and  were  strongly  pro 
tected.  They  were  designed  to  contain  garrisons,  either  to 
guard  a  frontier  or  keep  in  awe  newly  conquered  provinces. 
Two  ranges  of  them  were  erected  shortly  after  the  time  of  Agri- 
cola,  upon  the  frontiers  of  Caledonia,  placed  at  short  intervals 
apart  between  the  Clyde  and  Forth,  and  the  Tyne  and  Solway, 
nearly  upon  the  line  afterward  occupied  by  the  walls  of  Had 
rian,  Antoninus  Pius,  and  Severus.  The  smaller  sort  of  castra 
stativa  were  termed  castella,  answering  in  a  great  degree  to  the 
field-forts  and  redoubts  made  use  of  by  modern  armies. 

The  following  cut,  Fig.  40,  is  a  plan  of  the  camp  of  a  single 
Roman  legion,  according  to  Polybius,  and  is  introduced  more  to 
illustrate  the  different  methods  of  protecting  the  gateways,  than 
to  serve  any  other  purpose.  In  some  of  the  Western  military 
works,  as  may  be  seen  by  reference  to  the  first  volume  of  Smith 
sonian  Contributions,  gateways  occur  similar  to  that  at  A.  In 
the  more  regular  structures  of  the  West,  however,  the  mound 
covering  the  gateway  is  invariably  placed  interior  to  the  walls, 
which  circumstance,  joined  to  others  less  equivocal,  goes  to  sus- 


188 


COMPARATIVE    VIEW,    ETC. 


tain  the  conclusion  that  such  works  were  not  constructed  for 
defence.     The  Roman  camps  had  frequently  two,  sometimes 


FIG.  40. 

four  or  more,  lines  of  embankment,  with  flanking  defences,  horn- 
works,  etc.  The  stone  and  earth  circles  of  England  are  all 
ascribed  to  the  Celts;  the  rectangular  works  to  the  Romans. 
Throughout  the  islands,  no  works  occur  in  which  the  two  figures 
are  combined,  as  in  the  Mississippi  valley. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

SEPULCHRAL     MOUNDS    IN    MEXICO,    CENTRAL    AMERICA,    PERuJ 
AND    CHILI. 

MOUNDS  are  found  in  Oregon ;  but  little  is  known  concerning 
them,  except  that  they  occur  in  the  open  prairies,  are  of  small 
size  (seldom  more  than  six  or  seven  feet  in  height),  and  are 
many  thousands  in  number.  Some  of  them  were  opened  by 
Com.  Wilkes.  but  found  to  contain  nothing  beyond  a  pavement 
of  round  stones.  Their  origin  is  involved  in  obscurity.  Al 
though  professing  to  know  nothing  concerning  them,  the  Indians 
nevertheless  regard  them  with  some  degree  of  veneration. 
Their  priests,  or  "  medicine  men,"  gather  the  wild  herbs  which 
grow  upon  them,  for  use  in  their  incantations  and  superstitious 
rites.  It  seems  unlikely  that  they  were  built  by  a  people  so 
rude  as  those  found  in  present  occupation  of  the  country. — (Ex 
ploring  Expedition,  vol.  IV.,  p.  313.) 

It  is  not  known  that  any  mounds  occur  in  Upper  or  indeed 
in  Lower  California.  A  few  are  found  in  New  Mexico,  and  in 
the  valley  of  the  Gila ;  but  we  are  ignorant  of  their  character 
and  contents.  The  aboriginal  Mexicans  often  buried  in  the 
pyramidal  structures  constituting  their  temples ;  and  it  is  pre 
sumed,  although  we  have  no  direct  evidence  of  the  fact,  that 
they  sometimes  erected  tumuli  over  their  dead.  The  plain 
surrounding  the  great  pyramids  of  Teotihuacan  is  covered  with 
mounds,  chiefly  of  stone,  and  disposed  with  a  great  deal  of  reg 
ularity;  it  is  called  Micoatl,  or  Path  of  the  Dead*  These 

*Mr.  Thompson,  in  his  "Recollections  of  Mexico  (pp.  138,  142), 
expresses  the  opinion  that  what  have  been  very  generally  supposed 
to  be  sepulchral  mounds  around  these  pyramids,  are  not  such  in  fact, 


190  SEPULCHRAL    MOUNDS    IN    MEXICO,    ETC. 

pyramids  are,  however,  ascribed  to  the  Toltecs,  who  preceded 
the  Aztecs  in  the  possession  of  the  valley  of  Anahuac ;  and  it 
is  reasonable  to  believe  that  the  numerous  tumuli  which  sur 
round  them,  whatever  their  purposes,  were  built  by  the  same 
hands. 

If  the  practice  of  erecting  mounds  over  the  dead  prevailed  at 
all  among  the  Mexicans,  it  must  have  been  to  a  very  limited 
extent.  This  is  inferred  from  the  silence  of  all  the  ancient 
authorities,  who,  although  giving  us  very  minute  accounts  of 
their  burial  customs,  say  nothing  concerning  such  structures. 
It  was  usual  to  burn  the  dead,  and  the  rite  was  performed  with 
many  ceremonies..  In  cases  where  simple  inhumation  was 
practised,  the  body  was  placed  in  a  sitting  posture,  in  chambers 
of  stone  or  brick,  accompanied  by  their  ornaments  and  the 
implements  of  their  profession.  Bernal  Diaz  mentions  the 
explorations  of  Figuero,  an  officer  among  the  conquerors,  who,  in 
the  territory  of  the  Zapoticas,  employed  himself  "  in  discovering 
the  burial-places  of  the  Caziques,  and  in  opening  their  graves 
for  the  sake  of  the  golden  ornaments  which  the  inhabitants  of 
olden  times  were  accustomed  to  bury  with  their  chiefs.  This 
employment  he  prosecuted  with  so  much  vigor  and  success, 
that  he  collected  in  this  manner  over  100.000  dollars  worth  of 
gold." — (Lockharfs  Diaz,  vol.  II.,  p.  322.)  It  will  be  observed 
that  Diaz  speaks  of  these  tombs  as  belonging  to  the  people  who 
inhabited  the  country  in  the  olden  time — probably  the  Toltecs, 
among  which  branch  of  the  American  family  the  practice  of 
mound-building  seems  to  have  been  of  universal  prevalence. 

Sepulchral  mounds  are  abundant  in  many  parts  of  Central 
America.  In  the  vicinity  of  the  ruins  of  Ichmul,  in  Yucatan, 
they  are  particularly  numerous,  covering  the  plain  for  miles  in 
every  direction.  Some  of  these  are  forty  feet  in  height.  Sev 
eral  have  been  opened  and  found  to  contain  chambers,  inclos- 

but  simply  the  ruins  of  the  houses  composing  an  ancient  town.  His 
opinion,  for  reasons  which  the  inquirer  will  find  explained  at  large  in 
his  book,  is  entitled  to  consideration. 


SEPULCHRAL    MOUNDS    IN    MEXICO,    ETC.  191 

ing  skeletons,  placed  in  a  sitting  position  with  small  vessels  of 
pottery  at  their  feet. — (Norman's  Yucatan,}*.  146.)  In  Hon 
duras,  says  Herrara,  were  many  tombs  of  the  inhabitants ; 
;'  some  of  which  were  large  plain  rooms,  and  others  only  like 
great  heaps  of  earth.  In  the  territory  of  Zenu,"  continues  this 
author,  "  abundance  of  graves  were  found  in  a  field  near  a  tem 
ple,  so  ancient  that  large  trees  were  growing  over  them ;  and 
within  them  was  an  immense  quantity  of  gold,  besides  what  the 
Indians  took,  and  what  still  is  lost  underground.  These 
graves  were  very  magnificent,  adorned  with  broad  stones  and 
vaults,  in  which  the  dead  body  was  laid,  and  all  their  wealth, 
jewels,  and  arms,  women  and  servants  alive,  with  good  stores 
of  provisions  and  pitchers  of  their  liquors,  which  denoted  the 
knowledge  they  had  of  the  immortality  of  the  soul.  The  dead 
were  buried  sitting,  clothed  and  well  armed." — (Herrara^  vol. 
IV.,  p.  221.) 

Mr.  Stephens  excavated  a  sepulchral  mound  in  the  vicinity 
of  San  Francisco,  in  Yucatan.  It  was  a  square  stone  structure, 
with  sides  four  feet  high ;  and  the  top  was  rounded  over  with 
stones  and  earth.  The  interior  was  loose  earth  and  stones,  with 
some  layers  of  large  flat  stones,  the  whole  very  rough.  After 
digging  six  hours,  he  came  to  a  flat  stone  of  large  size,  beneath 
which  was  a  skeleton.  The  knees  were  bent  against  the  stomach, 
the  arms  doubled  from  the  elbow,  and  the  hands  supporting  the 
neck  or  head.  With  this  skeleton  was  found  a  large  vase,  the 
mouth  of  which  was  covered  with  a  flat  stone.  It  was  empty, 
except  some  little,  hard,  black  flakes  at  the  bottom.  Mr.  Ste 
phens  conjectures  that  it  may  have  contained  some  liquid,  or 
the  heart  of  the  skeleton. — (Trav.  in  Yucatan,  vol.  I.,  p.  277.) 

In  South  America,  and  particularly  in  Peru,  the  custom  of 
erecting  mounds  over  the  dead  was  of  general  prevalence.  The 
sepulchral  tumuli  of  Peru  were  called  huacas  or  guacas.  They 
exhibit  many  features  in  common  with  the  burial  mounds  of 
the  Mississippi  valley,  and  establish  that  funeral  customs,  in 
many  respects  similar  to  those  practised  by  the  race  of  the 


192  SEPULCHRAL    MOUNDS    IN    MEXICO,    ETC. 

mounds,  prevailed  among  the  ancient  inhabitants  of  that  coun 
try.  Their  form  is  generally  that  of  a  simple  cone ;  sometimes 
they  are  slightly  elliptical,  and  occasionally  rectangular.  Their 
usual  height  is  said  to  be  not  far  from  forty  to  fifty  feet,  though 
some  are  mentioned  which  are  upwards  of  one  hundred  feet  in 
altitude.  They  are  scattered  in  great  profusion  over  the  coun 
try  ;  but,  according  to  Ulloa,  are  "  most  abundant  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  town  of  Cayambe,  where  the  plains  are 
covered  with  them,  for  the  reason  that  formerly  here  was  one 
of  the  principal  temples  of  the  ancient  inhabitants,  which  it  was 
supposed  communicated  a  sacred  character  to  the  surrounding 
country,  which  was  therefore  chosen  for  the  burial-place  of  the 
kings  and  caziques  of  Quito  ;  and  in  imitation  of  them,  all  the 
chiefs  of  the  villages  were  interred  there.  The  remarkable 
difference,"  continues  this  author,  "  in  the  magnitude  of  these 
monuments,  seems  to  indicate  that  the  guacas  were  always  suit 
able  to  the  character,  dignity,  or  riches  of  the  person  interred, 
as  indeed  the  vassals  under  some  of  the  most  potent  caziques 
concurred  in  raising  a  mound  over  his  body." — (Ulloa,  vol. 
I.,  p.  480.)  It  may  be  regarded  as  settled,  that,  as  a  general 
thing,  none  but  the  bodies  of  deceased  chieftains  and  other 
persons  of  consequence  were  deposited  in  the  huacas,  and  that 
those  of  the  common  people  were  buried  in  simple  graves. 
Within  the  huacas,  upon  the  original  surface  of  the  ground,  are 
found  chambers  constructed  of  stone,  brick,  or  timber ;  some 
times  there  are  several  of  them,  with  connecting  galleries,  in 
which  the  dead  were  placed.  The  bodies  are  usually  found 
occupying  a  sitting  posture.  With  them  were  placed  a  great  vari 
ety  of  articles,  ornaments,  and  implements.  Vast  quantities  of 
pottery,  of  every  variety  of  form  and  ornament ;  articles  of  gold 
and  silver,  comprising  ear-rings,  pendants,  bracelets,  and  little 
images  of  men  and  animals  ;  axes  of  hardened  copper  and  of 
stone,  differing  but  slightly  in  shape  from  those  in  use  at  the 
present  day ;  spear-heads  and  mirrors  of  obsidian  (gallinazo 
stone) ;  cloth  of  cotton,  of  the  wool  of  the  lamas  and  of  other 


SEPULCHRAL    MOUNDS    IN    MEXICO,    ETC.  193 

materials ;  implements  of  palm-wood ;  marine  shells,  and  a 
thousand  articles  of  similar  character.  Vast  numbers  of  these 
tombs  have  been  opened  for  the  sake  of  the  treasures  they  con 
tain.* 

In  Chili,  sepulchral  mounds  of  earth  and  stone  are  of  fre 
quent  occurrence.  In  them  are  found,  besides  the  bones  of  the 
dead,  earthenware,  axes,  and  vessels  of  stone,  admirably  worked, 
and  occasionally  edged  tools  of  hardened  copper.  Molina 
describes,  with  considerable  minuteness,  the  funeral  ceremonies 
of  the  Chilian  Indians ;  which,  from  the  light  they  may  throw 
upon  the  customs  of  the  mound-builders,  are  worthy  of  notice. 
"  As  soon  as  one  of  their  nation  dies,  his  friends  and  relations 
seat  themselves  on  the  ground  round  the  body,  and  weep  for  a 
long  time  ;  they  afterward  expose  it,  donned  in  its  best  clothes, 
upon  a  high  bier,  where  it  remains  during  the  night,  which  they 
pass  near  it,  weeping,  or  in  eating  or  drinking  with  those  who 
come  to  console  them.  This  is  called  the  black  entertainment : 
black  being  with  them,  as  with  us,  the  sign  of  mourning.  The 
following  day,  or  within  two  or  three  days,  they  carry  the  corpse 
to  the  burial-place  of  the  family,  which  is  usually  situated  on  a 
hill  or  in  a  wood.  The  corpse  is  preceded  by  two  men  at  full 
speed  on  horseback,  and  is  followed  by  the  relations,  with  loud 
cries  and  lamentations,  while  a  woman  strews  ashes  on  the  track, 
to  prevent  the  soul  from  returning.  On  arriving  at  the  place 

*  The  amount  of  treasure  found  in  some  of  the  huacas  is  very  great. 
Stevenson  states  that  in  the  year  1576,  a  huaca  was  opened  in  which 
was  found  gold  amounting  to  46,810  golden  ounces ;  according  to 
Huinboldt,  5,000,000  francs.  We  are  not  surprised  at  the  great  value 
of  some  of  these  deposites,  in  view  of  the  almost  incredible  quantities 
of  gold  and  silver  possessed  by  the  ancient  Peruvians.  According  to 
Proctor  (Peru  in  1823-4),  the  excavation  of  the  ancient  tombs  for  their 
contents  is  still  carried  on,  though  it  seems  that  considerable  quantities 
of  the  precious  metals  are  seldom  found.  Mr.  Proctor  mentions  that 
in  some  instances  the  spindles  of  the  ancient  inhabitants,  with  the  cot 
ton  thread  still  perfect  on  them,  have  been  found  in  the  huacas. 
9 


194 


SEPULCHRAL    MOUNDS    IN    MEXICO,    ETC. 


of  burial,  the  corpse  is  laid  on  the  surface  of  the  ground,  sur 
rounded,  if  a  man,  with  his  arms ;  if  a  woman,  with  female  im 
plements,  and  with  a  great  quantity  of  provisions,  and  with 
vessels  filled  with  chica  and  with  wine,  which,  according  to  their 
opinion,  are  necessary  to  subsist  them  during  their  passage  to 
another  world.  They  sometimes  even  kill  a  horse  and  inter  it 
in  the  same  ground.  After  these  ceremonies,  they  take  leave, 
with  many  tears,  of  the  deceased,  wishing  him  a  prosperous 
journey,  and  cover  the  body  with  earth  and  stones  in  a  pyra 
midal  form,  upon  which  they  pour  a  great  quantity  of  chica" — 
(Molina1  s  Chili,  vol.  II.,  p.  82.) 

The  Esquimaux  cover  their  dead  with  rude  heaps  of  stone, 
above  which  they  pile  the  sledges  and  canoes  of  the  deceased. 
The  bodies  are  usually  closely  wrapped  in  skins,  and  placed  in 
a  sitting  posture. — ( Capt.  Lyorts  Narrative,  p.  68.)  Kotze- 
bue  mentions  a  structure  of  stones  which  he  designates  as  a 
"  round  tower,  four  fathoms  in  height,"  at  Kotzebue  Sound. 
It  was  probably  a  sepulchral  monument  of  the  savages. — 
(Voyage,  vol.  I.,  p.  210.) 


CHAPTER   XII. 

SEPULCHRAL     MOUNDS     AND     MONUMENTS     OF    THE     ANCIENT 
WORLD. 

"  THE  most  enduring  monuments  of  the  primeval  ages  of 
society,"  observes  a  learned  archaeologist,  "  were  those  erected 
in  memory  of  the  dead ;  and  it  seems  that  the  further  we  go 
back  into  the  history  of  mankind,  the  deeper  we  find  man's 
veneration  for  his  departed  brethren.  The  simplest,  and  also 
the  most  durable,  method  of  preserving  the  memory  of  the 
departed,  was  by  raising  a  barrow,  or  mound  of  stones,  over 
his  remains ;  and  accordingly,  we  find  instances  of  this  mode 
of  interment  in  almost  all  countries  of  the  globe."  The 
extent  to  which  it  prevailed  in  America,  we  have  already 
indicated  ;  and  the  coincidences  in  form  and  structure  between 
the  sepulchral  monuments  of  this  continent  and  those  of  the 
Old  World,  have  been  the  subject  of  incidental  remark. 
These  coincidences  are,  however,  sufficiently  remarkable  to 
merit  further  attention  ;  and  it  is  believed  a  brief  review  of 
the  character  of  the  primitive  sepulchral  monuments  of  the 
other  continent  will  serve  greatly  to  illustrate  and  explain 
those  of  our  own  country,  at  the  same  time  that  it  establishes 
the  general  prevalence  of  the  custom  of  mound-burial  in  past 
ages. 

The  earliest  of  human  records  distinctly  refer  to  the  prac 
tice  of  erecting  mounds  of-  earth  or  stone  over  the  dead ;  but 
we  find  in  the  pyramids  of  Egypt — which  may  be  regarded  as 
perfected  tumuli — the  evidence  of  its  prevalence  at  a  period 
long  anteceding  the  dawn  of  written  history.  In  the  deep 
night  of  antiquity,  step  by  step,  had  the  rude  heap  of  stones 


196 


SEPULCHRAL    MOUNDS    AND    MONUMENTS 


which  filial  regard  first  gathered  over  the  dead,  developed 
itself,  until  in  its  massive  proportions  and  solid  strength  it 
emulated  the  mountains,  and  bade  defiance  to  time.  Homer 
speaks  frequently  of  the  sepulchral  tumuli  of  the  heroic  age 
of  early  Greece,  and  gives  many  curious  details  relating  to  the 
ceremonies  of  the  interment.  The  description  of  the  burial 
of  Patroclus  is  familiar  to  most  readers ;  it,  however,  conveys 
so  accurate  and  lively  an  idea  of  the  practices  common  to 
ancient  burials,  that  we  cannot  do  better,  in  illustration  of  our 
subject,  than  to  quote  it  here.  It  should  be  premised  that  the 
Homeric  heroes  were  burned  before  interment. 

"  They  still  abiding  heaped  the  pile. 
A  hundred  feet  of  breadth  from  side  to  side 
They  gave  to  it,  and  on  the  summit  placed, 
With  sorrowing  hearts,  the  body  of  the  dead. 
Many  a  fat  sheep,  with  many  an  ox  full-horned, 
They  flayed  before  the  pile,  busy  their  task 
Administering ;  and  Peleus'  son,  the  fat 
Taking  from  every  victim,  overspread 
Complete  the  body  with  it  of  his  friend 
Patroclus,  and  the  flayed  beasts  heaped  around. 
Then,  placing  flagons  on  the  pile,  replete 
With  oil  and  honey,  he  inclined  their  mouths 
Towards  the  bier,  and  slew  and  added  next, 
Deep  groaning  and  in  haste,  four  martial  steeds. 
Nine  dogs  the  hero  at  his  table  fed ; 
Of  which  beheading  two,  their  carcasses 
He  added  also.     Last,  twelve  gallant  sons 
Of  noble  Trojans  slaying  (for  his  heart 
Teemed  with  great  vengeance),  he  applied  the  force 
Of  hungry  flames  that  should  devour  the  whole." 

Iliad,  Book  XXIII.,  COWPER'S  Version. 

The  sacrifices  done,  and  the  body  consumed,  the  bones  are 
next  collected  and  the  tumulus  heaped  above. 

"  The  Greeks  obey !    Where  yet  the  embers  glow, 
Wide  o'er  the  pile  the  sable  wine  they  throw, 
And  deep  subsides  the  ashy  heap  below. 


OF    THE    ANCIENT    WORLD.  197 

Next  the  white  bones  his  sad  companions  place, 

With  tears  collected,  in  the  golden  vase. 

The  sacred  relics  to  the  tent  they  bore ; 

The  urn  a  veil  of  linen  covered  o'er. 

That  done,  they  bid  the  sepulchre  aspire, 

And  cast  the  deep  foundations  round  the  pyre ; 

High  in  the  midst  they  heap  the  swelling  bed 

Of  rising  earth,  memorial  of  the  dead." — Iliad,  Book  XXIII. 

The  Trojans  are  made  to  bury  the  body  of  Hector  in  the 
same  manner:  during  nine  days  they  collect  the  wood  and 
raise  the  pile  ;  and  when  fire  has  completed  its  part  of  the 
work,  they  also  quench  the  fires  with  dark  wine,  and  collect  the 
bones  of  the  hero  in  a  golden  urn,  which  they  cover  with  a  rich 
cloth,  and  place  in  a  "  hollow  trench  ;"  above  this  they  pile 
large  stones,  and  over  all  heap  the  tumulus. 

The  body  of  the  dead  was  not  always  burned  among  the 
Greeks ;  on  the  contrary,  burial  both  by  inhumation  and  incre 
mation  was  practised  from  the  earliest  times,  though  one  prac 
tice  may  have  been  more  common  than  another  at  a  particular 
period.  In  Magna  Grsecia,  unburnt  skeletons  have  been  found, 
and  in  tombs  close  by  vases  containing  the  ashes  of  the  dead. — 
( Tischiben  and  Bottiger.)  Both  skeletons  and  ashes  have  been 
found  in  Greece  itself. — (Stackelberg,  die  Grdber.der  Hellenen.) 
There  are  no  certain  accounts  as  to  whether  the  body  was 
burned  at  the  place  of  sepulture,  or  at  a  spot  designated  for 
that  purpose.  At  any  rate,  the  remains  were  collected  and 
deposited  in  a  cinerary  made  of  clay  or  bronze.  The  coffins  of 
the  unburned  were  sometimes  of  wood,  but  generally  the  work 
of  the  potter,  though  in  some  cases  of  masonry  or  stone.  The 
tombs  were  usually  in  a  spot  designated  for  the  purpose. 
Sometimes  they  were  placed  in  the  person's  own  house.  After 
it  was  forbidden  to  bury  in  the  city,  it  became  common  to 
select  a,  certain  quarter  for  burials.  The  favorite  place  of  se 
pulture  was  in  the  fields  or  by  some  frequented  highway.  The 
tombs  were  the  inviolate  property  of  the  family,  so  that  no 


198  SEPULCHRAL    MOUNDS    AND    MONUMENTS 

other  person  might  bury  therein.  A  variety  of  articles  were 
placed  with  the  dead — vases,  mirrors,  ornaments,  etc.  In  cases 
of  burning,  they  were  placed  on  the  pyre.  Feasts  and  offerings 
to  the  dead  were  customary.  At  stated  times  the  tombs  were 
decked,  and  sometimes  bloody  sacrifices  were  made.  In  the 
order  of  funeral  ceremonies,  it  should  be  mentioned  that  the 
first  thing  done  was  to  insert  a  small  coin  (an  obolus)  in  the 
mouth  of  the  dead,  as  a  vav\ov  for  the  ferryman  of  Hades.  A 
similar  custom  existed  among  the  ancient  Mexicans,  who  in 
serted  a  gem  of  some  kind  in  the  lips  of  the  deceased,  which 
was  to  serve  as  a  heart  in  the  next  world. 

The  funeral  customs  of  the  Romans  were  nearly  identical 
with  those  practised  by  the  Greeks.  Their  tombs  were  often 
simple  tumuli,  and  so  denominated.  Burial  by  inhumation 
and  by  fire  were  common  practices.  In  the  tombs  were  placed 
coins,  urns,  flasks  for  holding  tears  or  perfumes,  sepulchral 
lamps,  etc.  Games  were  celebrated  in  honor  of  the  dead,  and 
sacrifices  and  libations  made  on  their  tombs. 

Among  both  Greeks  and  Romans,  the  expenditures  at  fu 
nerals  became  so  great,  and  the  ambition  to  erect  large  and 
costly  monuments  so  general,  that  it  was  found  necessary  to 
prescribe  their  dimensions,  and  check  extravagance  by  law. 

A  pillar  or  upright  stone,  in  ancient  times  a  sacred  emblem, 
was  usually  placed  upon  the  tumulus  of  the  dead.  Paris 
wounded  Diornedes  from  behind  the  pillar  on  the  barrow  of 
Ilus.  These  pillars  were  called  stelce.  Alexander,  when  he 
crossed  the  Hellespont,  performed  solemn  games  at  the  bar 
rows  of  the  Grecian  heroes  who  fell  before  the  walls  of  Troy, 
and  anointed  with  perfumes  the  stelce  on  their  tops.  They 
were  erected  on  the  taphos  of  the  Athenians  who  fell  at  Mara 
thon,  and  on  that  of  the  Lacedaemonians  who  died  at  Thermo 
pylae,  and  bore  the  names  of  the  slain.  The  stelae  were  con 
tinued  when  the  barrows  were  no  longer  erected  ;  and  the  idea 
of  their  sanctity  is  still  retained  in  the  monumental  stones 


OF    THE    ANCIENT    WORLD.  199 

which  plead  for  safety,  by  professing  to  be  sacred  to  the  memory 
of  the  person  above  whose  grave  they  are  erected. 

Sometimes  the  arms  or  implements  of  the  dead  were  sus 
pended  around  the  stela  or  crowned  the  barrow  of  the  dead.  A 
spear  was  fixed  on  the  tomb  of  the  Trojan  Hector  ;  and  Mise- 
nus,  the .  trumpeter  of  Hector,  and  pilot  of  the  Trojan  fleet 
of  ^Eneas,  had  reared  upon  his  tomb  the  symbols  of  his 
deeds. 

"  On  it  J5neas  piously  heaped 
A  mighty  mound  sepulchral.    The  oar,  the  trumpet, 
Arms  of  the  man,  the  airy  summit  crowned, 
From  him  Misenus  named.    It  still  retains 
That  name,  and  holds  it  through  the  lapse  of  time."* 

Mneid,  IV.,  232. 

Even  in  the  later  periods  of  Grecian  history,  mounds  are 
occasionally  raised  over  the  illustrious  dead.  Plutarch  says 
that  Alexander,  on  the  death  of  Demaratus,  "  made  a  most 
magnificent  funeral  for  him,  his  whole  army  raising  him  a 
monument  of  earth  eighty  cubits  high  and  of  vast  circum 
ference."  Semiramis  endeavored  to  eternize  the  memory  of 
Ninus  her  husband,  by  raising  a  high  mound  for  his  tomb. 
The  Scythians,  whose  tumuli  are  scattered  in  great  abundance 
over  the  plains  of  Russia,  southern  Siberia,  and  Tartary, 
labored,  says  Herodotus, "  to  raise  as  high  a  monument  of  earth 

*  The  practice  here  indicated  was  one  of  general  prevalence,  not  only 
in  ancient  but  in  more  modern  times,  and  alike  among  savage  and 
polished  nations.  The  Indians  around  the  Upper  Mississippi,  to  this 
day,  place  a  pole  above  the  graves  of  their  dead,  from  which  his  arms 
and  ornaments  are  suspended ;  so,  too,  do  the  Indians  of  Oregon ;  who, 
however,  distrusting  the  veneration  of  their  fellows,  break  holes  in  the 
kettles,  and  bend  the  barrels  of  the  guns  which  they  place  on  the  tombs. 
The  arms  and  crest  of  the  titled  dead  are  still  graven  on  their  monu 
ments,  and  the  unstrung  lyre  and  broken  sword  indicate  the  graves  of 
the  poet  and  the  warrior.  The  stelae  are  still  to  be  seen  on  the  barrows 
of  the  ancient  Scythians  and  Scandinavians,  though  none  are  found 
crowning  the  sepulchral  mounds  of  America. 


200  SEPULCHRAL    MOUNDS    AND    MONUMENTS 

for  their  dead  as  possible."  This  author  has  left  us  a  remarka 
ble  description  of  their  mode  of  interment,  which  is  amply 
confirmed  by  the  exploration  of  their  tombs.  "  The  body  of 
the  king,  having  been  transported  through  the  various  pro 
vinces  of  the  kingdom,  was  brought  at  last  to  the  Gerri,  who 
live  in  the  remotest  parts  of  Scythia,  where  the  sepulchres  are. 
Here  the  corpse  was  placed  upon  a  couch,  encompassed  on  all 
sides  by  spears  fixed  in  the  ground:  upon  the  whole  were 
placed  pieces  of  wood,  covered  with  branches  of  willow.  They 
strangled  one  of  the  deceased's  concubines,  his  groom,  cook,  and 
most  confidential  servant,  whose  bodies  they  placed  around  the 
dead ;  they  slew  horses  also,  and  deposited  with  him  the  first 
fruits  of  all  things,  and  the  choicest  of  his  effects,  and  finally 
some  golden  goblets,  for  they  possessed  neither  silver  nor  brass. 
This  done,  they  heaped  the  earth  above  with  great  care,  and 
endeavored  to  make  as  high  a  mound  as  possible." — (Melpomene, 
LXXI. )  The  richness  of  the  Scythian  barrows  is  extraordinary ; 
and  according  to  Strahlenberg,  the  local  governors  of  Siberia 
used  formerly  to  authorize  caravans  or  expeditions  "  to  visit 
and  ransack  the  tombs,"  reserving  to  themselves  a  tenth  of  the 
treasures  recovered. — (Siberia,  p.  366.)  In  the  second  volume 
of  the  British  Archasologia,  is  an  account  of  the  opening  of  one 
of  the  large  tumuli  in  southern  Siberia.  After  removing  the 
superincumbent  earth  and  stones,  three  -vaults,  constructed  of 
unhewn  stones  and  of  rude  workmanship,  were  discovered. 
The  central  one  was  largest,  and  contained  the  remains  of  the 
individual  over  whom  the  tumulus  had  been  erected.  It  also 
contained  his  sword,  spear,  bow,  quiver,  arrows,  etc.  In  the 
vault  at  his  feet,  were  the  skeleton  and  trappings  of  a  horse  ; 
in  the  vault  at  his  head,  a  female  skeleton,  supposed  to  be  that 
of  his  wife.  The  male  skeleton  reclined  against  the  head  of 
the  vault,  on  a  sheet  of  pure  gold,  extending  from  head  to  foot, 
and  another  of  like  dimensions  was  spread  over  it.  It  had 
been  wrapped  in  a  rich  mantle,  studded  with  rubies  and  eme 
ralds.  The  female  skeleton  was  enveloped  in  like  manner  j  a 


OF    THE    ANCIENT    WORLD.  201 

golden  chain  of  many  links,  set  with  rubies,  went  round  her 
neck,  and  there  were  bracelets  of  gold  upon  her  arms.  The 
four  sheets  of  gold  weighed  forty  pounds. 

In  some  instances,  the  bodies  were  burned  before  interment. 
All  of  the  Scythian  barrows  contain  numerous  relics  of  art,  orna 
ments  of  gold  and  silver  and  precious  stones,  weapons  and 
implements  of  war,  domestic  utensils,  mirrors,  images  and 
idols,  vases  of  metal  and  pottery,  grains  of  the  millet  kind,  etc., 
etc. — (Strahlenberg,  pp.  264,  268  ;  RenncPs  Herodotus,  p.  110.) 
These  ancient  tombs,  which  are  called  Bogri  by  the  Rus 
sians,  are  often  plain  mounds.  Some  were  set  round  with 
rough  stones  in  a  circle  or  square :  others  with  hewn  stones. 
In  the  squares  the  corner-stone  was  usually  higher  and  broader 
than  the  others,  and  sometimes  bore  inscriptions.  Occasion 
ally,  the  barrow  was  surmounted  with  a  stone,  or  stela. 

In  Rajast'han,  the  practice  of  burying  the  distinguished 
dead  under  tumuli  still  exists.  Previous  to  interment,  the 
body  is  burned,  as  is  also  the  wife  of  the  deceased,  who  in  all 
cases  accompanies  her  lord.  Monumental  pillars  are  also 
erected,  rudely  carved  with  emblematic  figures.  They  are 
placed  in  lines,  irregular  groups,  and  in  circles,  and  are  numer 
ous  in  the  vicinity  of  every  large  town.  These  tombs  are 
places  of  sacrifice,  and  to  them  the  Rajpoot  repairs  at  stated 
intervals,  to  make  offerings  to  the  manes  of  his  ancestors.— 
(Tod's  Rajasthan,  vol.  I.,  pp.  72,  75  ) 

A  singular  variety  of  tumular  structures,  maintaining  a  cer 
tain  resemblance  to  those  of  other  portions  of  the  globe,  but 
having  many  essentially  peculiar  features,  is  found  in  Sweden. 
They  are,  for  the  chief  part,  circular :  sometimes,  however, 
there  is  a  square  inclosure  of  upright  stones,  with  a  conical 
barrow  in  the  centre,  which  has  its  base  surrounded  with  up 
right  stones  ;  midway  between  this  and  the  summit,  the  cir 
cumference  is  marked  by  a  second  ring  of  upright  stones  ;  close 
to  the  summit,  a  third  belt  encircles  it,  and  the  crest  of  the 
barrow  is  crowned  by  a  cromlech,  or  group  of  stones.  Another 

9* 


202  SEPULCHRAL    MOUNDS    AND    MONUMENTS 

variety  has  a  circle  of  upright  stones  around  the  base  of  a 
carnedd,  or  stone  mound.  A  third  variety  has  a  circular  belt 
of  upright  stones  around  a  conical  barrow,  which  is  surmounted 
by  a  single  upright  stone.  In  connection  with  these,  is  a  re 
markable  variety  of  stone  inclosures.  Some  consist  of  a  simple 
circle  of  upright  stones ;  two  of  which,  placed  opposite  each 
other,  are  larger  and  taller  than  the  rest.  Others  are  circular, 
with  a  small  avenue  of  approach  of  four  stones  on  each  side ; 
others  are  large  circles,  with  every  sixth  stone  of  larger  size 
than  the  others,  and  the  two  north  and  south,  of  still  greater 
dimensions ;  others  are  triangular,  with  a  large  stone  in  the 
centre,  and  another  at  each  corner;  others  triangular,  with 
each  side  curving  inward,  but  without  the  large  stones  in  the 
centre  and  corners  ;  others  are  square.  The  structures  last 
named  are  frequently  surrounded  by  valla,  and  inclosures  are 
seen  contiguous  to  and  even  forming  part  of  tumuli. — (Sjoborg 
Samlingarfor  Nor  dens  Porndlskare,  fyc.,  2  vols.  4to.,  Stockholm, 
1822  ;  Zur  Alterthumskunde  des  Nordens,  Von  J.  J.  A.  Wbrsace, 
Leipzig.  1847.) 

Mr.  Worsaae  divides  these  barrows,  according  to  the  charac 
ter  of  their  contents,  into  three  classes ; 

FIRST. — Barrows  of  the  Stone  Age. — These  contain  unburned 
corpses,  inclosed  in  rude  stone  chambers  ;  the  implements  and 
utensils  found  in  them  are  of  stone  or  flint. 

SECOND. — Barrows  of  the  Bronze  Age. — Containing  burned 
human  remains,  deposited  in  vases  or  little  stone  chests  :  also, 
arms  and  utensils  of  bronze  or  copper. 

THIRD. — Barrows  of  the  Iron  Age. — Burned  human  remains : 
arms  and  utensils  of  iron,  etc.  These  barrows  are  often  of 
regular  forms,  triangular,  square,  oval,  shipform,  etc. ;  generally 
surrounded  by  upright  stones,  as  above. 

This  classification  differs  somewhat  from  that  usually  adopted, 
in  which  the  "age  of  fire"  and  the  "age  of  hills"  distinguish 
the  earlier  and  later  periods  of  Scandinavian  monumental  his 
tory.  Odin  is  said  to  have  introduced  the  practice  of  burning, 


OF    THE    ANCIENT    WORLD.  203 

'and  also  that  of  the  wife  sacrificing  herself  with  her  deceased 
lord. — (Mallei's  Northern  Antiq.,  Chap.  XII.)  Among  all  the 
rude  nations  of  the  north  and  west  of  Europe,  for  an  indefinite 
period  before  the  dawn  of  civilization,  burial  customs,  strictly 
analogous  to  those  already  described,  existed.  The  dead  were 
buried  with  or  without  burning,  and  with  them  were  deposited 
numerous  relics  of  art,  which,  in  the  greater  or  less  skill  which 
they  exhibit,  mark  the  eras  of  burial,  and  the  gradual  advance 
of  the  builders.  The  Germans,  says  Tacitus,  "  added  to  the 
funeral  pile  the  arms  of  the  deceased  and  his  horse,"  and  both 
Caesar  and  Pomponius  agree  in  saying  that  the  inhabitants  of 
Belgium  and  Gaul  buried  or  burned  with  the  dead  whatever 
was  valued  by  them  in  their  lifetime. 

The  burial-mounds  of  the  ancient  Britons,  both  of  the  Celtic 
and  Saxon  periods,  evince  similar  practices  on  the  part  of 
their  builders.  For  obvious  reasons,  the  mounds  of  the  United 
States  have  oftenest  been  compared  to  these ;  and,  upon  the 
narrow  basis  of  certain  coincidences  in  structure,  a  common 
origin  has  been  ascribed  to  both.  This  circumstance,  in  con 
nection  with  others,  justifies  a  more  detailed  notice  of  the 
British  barrows  than  would  otherwise  be  required.  They  have 
been  systematically  investigated  by  many  learned  and  indefati 
gable  antiquarians,  the  result  of  whose  inquiries,  so  far  as  they 
relate  to  the  modes  of  interment  practised  by  the  ancient 
inhabitants,  are  compendiously  presented  by  Sir  R.  C.  Hoare, 
in  his  splendid  work,  entitled  "  Ancient  Wiltshire." 

"  Four  distinct  modes  of  interment  were  practised  by  the 
ancient  Britons  : — 

1.  The  body  placed  generally  in  a  cist,  with  its  legs  bent  up 
toward  the  head,  and  frequently  accompanied  by  daggers  of 
brass,  drinking  cups,  &c. 

2.  The  body  extended  at  full  length,  accompanied  by  articles 
of  brass  and  iron,  such  as  spear-heads,  lances,  swords,  and  the 
umbos  of  shields. 

3.  Interment  by  incremation ;   when  the  body  of  the  de- 


204  SEPULCHRAL    MOUNDS    AND    MONUMENTS 

ceased  was  consumed  by  fire,  and  the  bones  and  ashes  deposited 
either  on  the  floor  of  the  barrow,  or  in  a  cist  cut  in  the  chalk. 
This  is  called  a  simple  interment. 

4.  Urn  burial,  with  incremation,  when  the  body  was  burned, 
and  the  bones  and  ashes  deposited  within  a  sepulchral  urn, 
which  is  generally,  though  not  in  all  cases,  reversed.  By  the 
web  of  cloth  still  remaining  in  some  instances,  it  appears  that 
the  ashes  were  wrapped  up  in  a  linen  cloth  and  fastened  by  a 
small  brass  pin,  several  of  which,  intermixed  with  the  ashes, 
have  been  found. 

"  Of  these  modes  of  burial,  the  first  was  probably  most 
primitive;  articles  of  iron  bespeak  a  later  period;  and  it  is 
further  probable,  that  the  two  modes  of  burying  the  body  by 
fire  were  adopted  at  one  and  the  same  period.  We  have  in 
stances  where  the  body  has  been  inclosed  in  a  wooden  chest, 
riveted  with  brass,  or  within  the  more  simple  covering  of  an 
unbarked  timber  tree." 

A  very  remarkable  resemblance  in  form  exists  between  the 
various  kinds  of  British  barrows  and  the  mounds  of  this  coun 
try;  in  this  respect,  indeed,  there  is  scarcely  a  perceptible 
difference  between  them.  The  curious  will  find  in  Hoare's 
Ancient  Wiltshire,  1812;  Stukeley's  Stonehenge  and  Itinera- 
rium ;  Rowland's  Antiquities  of  Anglesey,  1723;  Camden's 
Britannia ;  Grose's  Antiquities ;  in  the  British  Archaeologia, 
thirty  volumes,  quarto;  Higgins's  Celtic  Druids,  1827  ;  Bor- 
lase's  Ancient  Cornwall ;  and  in  numerous  other  works  upon  the 
subject,  abundant  illustrations  of  the  correctness  of  this  obser 
vation.  Sir  R.  C.  Hoare  has  attempted  to  make  the  variety 
of  form  exhibited  by  these  barrows  the  basis  of  a  classification, 
distinguishing  the  eras  of  their  construction,  and  even  the  caste 
and  condition  of  the  dead  which  they  cover.  It  is  probable 
that  some  varieties  of  form  may  have  predominated  at  a  par 
ticular  period,  and  that  the  dimensions  of  the  barrow  may  have, 
in  some  degree,  corresponded  with  the  rank  of  the  dead.  Fur- 


OF    THE    ANCIENT    WORLD.  205 

ther  than  this,  however,  the  theory  is  not  well  sustained.  Sir 
Richard  enumerates  not  less  than  eleven  kinds  of  tumuli,  dis 
tinguished  from  each  other  by  their  form,  viz : 

1st.  The  Long  Barrow,  which  resembles  half  an  egg,  cut 
lengthwise,  one  end  a  little  broader  than  the  other,  generally 
ditched  around  the  base,  sometimes  inclosed  in  a  circle,  and 
occasionally  set  round  with  upright  stones.  Supposed  to  be 
the  oldest  form  of  the  Celtic  barrows.  Contents :  usually  a 
number  of  skeletons  at  the  broad  end,  lying  in  a  confused  man 
ner,  and  generally  covered  with  a  pile  of  stones  or  flints.  In 
other  parts,  stags'  horns,  fragments  of  rude  pottery,  and  burnt 
bones. 

2d.  The  Bowl  Barrow,  the  form  of  which  is  indicated  by  the 
name,  with  or  without  a  ditch,  and  having  a  slight  depression 
in  the  top.  Supposed  to  be  a  family  mausoleum. 

3d.  The  Bell  Barrow,  a  modification  of  the  Bowl  Barrow, 
supposed  to  have  been  formed  by  placing  a  new  top  thereon, 
for  additional  interment. 

4th.  The  Druid  Barrows,  inclosed  by  a  vallum  and  ditch, 
the  latter  always  interior  to  the  former ;  the  number  of  mounds 
within  the  inclosure,  varying  from  one  to  fifteen  or  twenty. 
Contents :  skeletons,  small  cups,  beads  of  amber,  glass,  and  jet, 
small  lance-heads,  and  very  rarely,  sepulchral  urns,  all  of 
elegant  workmanship.  Sir  Richard  supposes,  from  the  pre 
dominance  of  ornaments,  that  they  were  devoted  to  females. 
Supposed  to  be  family  cemeteries. 

5th.  The  Pond,  Barrow,  consisting  of  a  simple  circular  vallum 
or  ditch.  Fosbroke  doubts  whether  these  should  be  denomi 
nated  barrows,  and  suggests  that  they  may  have  been  Druidi- 
cal  tribunals.  They  are  identical  in  form  with  many  of  the 
small  circles  of  the  "West.  No  remains  found  in  them. 

6th.  The  Twin  Barrow,  comprised  of  two  barrows  joining 
each  other,  and  inclosed  in  a  circle.  Supposed  by  Sir  Richard 


206        SEPULCHRAL    MOUNDS    AND    MONUMENTS,    ETC. 

to  be  the  monuments  of  individuals  closely  allied  to  each  other 
by  blood  or  friendship. 

The  remaining  classes  are  but  slight  and  hardly  appreciable 
modifications  of  those  already  described. 

The  rude  natives  of  New  Zealand  erect  tumuli  over  their 
dead,  who  are  sometimes  burned  previous  to  interment.  Their 
arms  and  ornaments  are  deposited  with  them.  Custom  rigor 
ously  enjoins  that  these  monuments  to  the  departed  should  be 
carefully  watched  over.  A  woman  at  Clarence  River,  who 
neglected  to  weed  and  trim  her  husband's  tumulus,  was  put  to 
death  in  consequence  of  her  neglect. — (Angas'  Australia  and 
New  Zealand,  vol.  II.,  p.  280 ;  Grafs  Australia,  vol.  L,  p. 
227.)  Similar  monuments,  most  usually  constructed  of  stone, 
and  sometimes  of  great  size  and  regularity,  were  often  erected 
over  the  dead  by  the  natives  of  the  larger  Polynesian  Islands, 
where  they  still  remain,  enduring  records  of  the  primitive  cus 
toms  of  the  islanders. — (Ellis's  Polynesian  Researches,  vol. 
III.,  pp.  242,  325  ;  Beechey's  Nar.,  pp.  20,  37  ;  La  Perouse 
Voy.,  vol.  Ill,  p.  194.) 

Without  noticing  further  the  burial  customs  of  nations,  an 
cient  and  modern,  in  the  various  quarters  of  the  globe,  enough 
has  been  presented  to  show  the  general  prevalence  of  mound- 
sepulture,  and  the  nearly  uniform,  practices  which  attended  it. 
As  remarked  at  the  outset,  it  is  the  simplest  method  of  per 
petuating  the  memory  of  the  dead.  Its  general  adoption  by 
different  and  widely  separated  people,  must  not,  therefore,  be 
taken  to  indicate  any  extraordinary  dependence. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 


PROBABLE  FUNERAL  RITES  OP  THE  MOUND-BUILDERS. 

FROM  various  features  discovered  in  the  sepulchral  mounds 
of  New  York  as  well  as  in  those  of  the  West,  it  has  been  sug 
gested  that  sacrifices  or  ceremonies  of  some  kind,  in  which  fire 
performed  a  part,  were  solemnized  above  the  dead.  The  gen 
eral  occurrence  of  a  layer  of  charcoal  at  some  point  near  the 
surface  of  the  mound,  bearing  evidence  of  having  been  heaped 
over  while  burning,  and  sometimes  having  mingled  with  it 
human  bones,  the  bones  of  animals,  and  relics  of  art,  affords 
ample  basis  for  the  conjecture.  We  have  seen  that  in  the 
burials  of  Chili,  sacrifices  and  libations  were  made  at  the  tumuli 
of  the  dead ;  in  Peru,  the  burial  rites  were  very  similar,  and  in 
cases  where  the  deceased  was  of  the  Inca  race,  or  a  person  of 
consequence,  his  wives  and  domestics  were  put  to  death,  that 
they  might  accompany  and  serve  him  in  another  world.  On 
the  death  of  the  Inca  Huyana  Capac,  it  is  said  that  over  one 
thousand  victims  were  slain  at  his  tomb.  Similar  practices  pre 
vailed  among  many  of  the  South  American  savage  tribes ;  also 
in  Central  America  and  in  Mexico.  In  the  latter  country,  the 
arms,  implements,  and  ornaments  of  the  deceased  were  burned 
or  buried  with  him ;  and,  as  we  have  already  said,  an  animal 
resembling  a  dog,  called  by  the  Mexicans  techichi,  was  killed,  to 
accompany  his  soul  in  its  journey  to  the  world  of  spirits.  If 
the  body  was  burned,  the  ashes  were  collected  in  an  earthen  pot  ; 
in  this  was  deposited  a  gem.  which  it  was  supposed  would  serve 
in  the  next  world  for  a  heart ;  and  the  urn  was  buried  in  a  deep 


208  PROBABLE    FUNERAL    RITES 

ditch.*  Eighty  days  thereafter,  oblations  of  meats  and  drinks 
were  made  over  the  grave.  On  the  decease  of  persons  of  con 
sequence,  their  slaves  and  servants  were  put  to  death  ;  some 
times  in  great  numbers.  Analogous  customs  prevailed  among 
the  Natchez,  when,  on  the  death  of  the  Suns,  many  human  vic 
tims  were  sacrificed.  Among  the  savage  North  American  tribes, 
no  custom  was  more  general  than  that  of  making  oblations  at 
the  tombs  of  the  dead :  dogs  were  sometimes  sacrificed  at  the 
burial ;  and  horses  are  now  occasionally  slain  by  the  "Western 
tribes  upon  the  graves  of  their  owners.  Libations  in  some 
cases  were  made  at  the  tomb,  and  repeated  at  intervals  for 
years.  According  to  Charlevoix.  at  the  "  Feasts  of  the  Dead," 
or  general  burial  of  the  Hurons  and  Iroquois,  dances,  games, 
and  combats  constituted  a  part  of  the  ceremonies  of  the  occasion. 
Yanegas  (Hist.  California,  L,  p.  104)  says,  The  California 
Indians  bury  or  burn  their  dead  indifferently,  as  chances  to  be 
most  convenient.  Vancouver  ( Voy.  III.,  pp.  182,  242)  men 
tions  two  instances,  in  which  the  natives  of  the  Northwest  coast 
burned  their  dead  ;  but  we  are  not  left  to  infer  that  the  cus 
tom  was  general.  A  singular  funeral  custom  is  mentioned  as 
prevailing  among  the  Takali,  or  Carriers,  one  of  the  Oregon 
tribes,  and  a  branch  of  the  great  Algonquin  family.  They 
always  burn  their  dead  upon  a  pyre ;  in  case  the  deceased  has  a 
wife,  she  is  obliged  to  lie  by  the  side  of  the  corpse  until  the  fire 

*  "  They  (the  Mexicans)  made  it  the  office  of  the  priests  to  inter 
the  dead  and  perform  the  funeral  obsequies.  They  buried  them  in  their 
own  gardens,  and  in  the  courts  of  their  own  houses.  Some  were  carried 
to  the  places  of  sacrifice  in  the  mountains ;  others  were  burned,  and  the 
ashes  afterward  buried  in  the  temples ;  and  with  all  were  buried  what 
ever  they  had  of  apparel,  stones,  and  jewels.  They  did  put  the  ashes 
of  the  dead  in  pots,  and  with  them  their  valuables,  how  rich  soever  they 
might  be.  If  it  were  a  king  or  lord  who  was  dead,  they  offered  slaves  to 
be  put  to  death,  and  gave  apparel  to  such  as  came  to  the  interment.  *  *  * 
They  did  set  food  and  drink  on  the  graves  of  the  dead,  imagining  that 
their  souls  did  feed  thereon."— (Acosta  in  Purchas,  Vol.  III.,  p.  1029.) 


OF    THE    MOUND-BUILDERS.  209 

is  lighted  and  the  heat  becomes  intense.  If,  in  the  estimation 
of  the  spectators,  she  abandons  the  pyre  too  early,  she  is  thrust, 
back,  and  thus  often  falls  a  sacrifice.  The  Medicine-men  of  this 
tribe  pretend  to  receive  the  spirit  of  the  dead  in  their  hands, 
after  the  corpse  is  burned,  and  to  be  able  to  transfer  it  to  any 
one  they  choose,  who  then  bears  the  name  of  the  dead,  in  addi 
tion  to  his  own. — (Narrative  of  U.  S.  Exploring  Expedition, 
vol.  IV.,  p.  453.) 

Father  Creux,  a  Jesuit  Missionary  in  Canada,  in  1639,  no 
tices  a  fact  which  affords  a  curious  antithesis  to  the  customs  of 
the  Mexicans,  above  presented  by  Clavigero :  namely,  that  the 
Hurocs  cut  off  the  flesh  from  the  bones  of  those  who  were 
drowned  or  frozen,  and  burned  it ;  the  skeleton  alone  was 
buried.  Charlevoix  (vol.  II.,  p.  189)  confirms  this  statement. 
He  adds,  that  the  bodies  of  those  slain  in  battle  were  burned, 
probably  for  the  more  easy  transportation  of  their  ashes  to  the 
burial-grounds  of  their  fathers. 

La  Hontan  (vol.  II.,  p.  53)  states  that  "  The  savages  upon 
the  Long  River  [Mississippi?]  burn  their  dead;  reserving  the 
bodies  until  there  are  a  sufficient  number  to  burn  together, 
which  is  performed  out  of  the  village,  in  a  place  set  apart  for 
the  purpose."  This  statement  does  not  find  support  in  other 
authorities. 

"  They  appease  the  souls  of  the  dead  with  offerings  of  meats 
and  drinks.  Every  woman  whose  child  dies  at  a  distance  from 
home,  makes  a  journey,  once  a  year,  if  possible,  to  its  place  of 
burial,  to  pour  a  libation  on  its  grave." — (Loskid,  p.  76.) 

With  these  facts  and  the  suggestions  of  analogy  before  us,  we 
are  certainly  justified  in  the  inference  that  the  burials  in  the 
mounds  were  attended  with  sacrifices,  perhaps  of  human  victims, 
with  oblations,  and,  it  is  probable,  with  games  and  ceremonies 
corresponding  with  those  which  prevailed,  at  one  period,  in  the 
Old  World. 

It  was  remarked,  in  a  preceding  chapter,  that  the  highest 


210  PROBABLE    FUNERAL    RITES 

points  of  the  hills  and  the  jutting  bluffs  of  the  table-lands  bor 
dering  the  valleys  of  the  Western  rivers,  are  often  crowned 
with  mounds.  Although  generally  supposed  to  have  been  de 
signed  for  "  look-outs,"  or  places  of  observation,  investigation  has 
shown  that  a  portion  of  them,  at  least,  were  sepulchral  in  their 
original  purposes.  Clavigero  observes  of  the  Mexicans,  that 
they  had  no  particular  places  assigned  for  the  burial  of 
their  dead,  but  entombed  them  in  the  fields  and  on  the  moun 
tains.  It  is  possible  that  an  ambition  like  that  which  governed 
the  selection  of  the  place  of  sepulture  of  the  Omahaw  chief, 
Blackbird,  also  influenced  the  ancient  people  in  the  disposal  of 
their  dead.  He  was  buried  sitting  on  his  favorite  horse,  on  the 
summit  of  a  high  hill  overlooking  the  Mississippi,  "that  he  might 
see  the  strangers  coming  to  trade  with  his  people."  So,  too,  the 
chiefs  of  the  mound-builders  may  have  desired,  at  their  death? 
to  be  placed  where,  with  the  eyes  of  a  spirit,  they  might  watch 
over  their  people  thronging  the  fertile  valleys  beneath  their 
tombs.  Thus  an  early  Greek  poet  speaks  of  the  tomb  of  The- 
mistocles  overlooking  the  Piraeus : 

"  Then  shall  thy  mound,  conspicuous  on  the  shore, 
Salute  the  mariners  who  pass  the  sea, 
Keep  watch  on  all  who  enter  or  depart, 
And  be  the  umpire  in  the  naval  strife." 

Plato  comicus,  ap.  Plut.  vit.  Themisl. 

A  somewhat  similar  sentiment  occurs  in  the  Iliad,  where 
Hector,  speaking  of  one  he  is  to  slay  in  single  combat,  says : 

"  The  long-haired  Greeks 
To  him,  upon  the  shores  of  Hellespont, 
A  mound  shall  heap  ;  that  those  in  after-times 
Who  sail  along  the  darksome  sea  shall  say, 
'  This  is  the  monument  of  one  long  since 
Borne  to  his  grave,  by  mighty  Hector  slain.' " 

The  ancient  Anglo-Saxon  was  not  without  a  similar  ambi 
tion.     The  dying  Beowulf  enjoins : 


OF    THE    MOUND-BUILDERS.  211 

"  Command  the  famous  in  war 
to  make  a  mound, 
bright  after  the  funeral  fire, 
upon  the  nose  of  the  promontory. 
Which  shall  for  a  memorial 
to  my  people 
rise  high  aloft 
on  Hronesness ; 
that  the  sea-sailors 
may  afterward  call  it 
Beowulfs  barrow, 
when  the  Brentings 
over  the  darkness  of  the  floods 
shall  sail  afar." — Beowulf,  v.  5599. 

The  size  of  the  aboriginal  mounds  of  the  West  was  no  doubt 
regulated  in  a  degree  by  the  dignity  of  the  individuals  over 
whose  remains  they  were  erected,  or  by  the  regard  in  which 
they  were  held  by  their  people.  In  the  number  or  value  of 
their  inclosed  relics,  the  various  mounds,  great  and  small,  ex 
hibit  little  difference.  We  have,  however,  seen,  according  to 
Ulloa,  that  the  character  of  the  deposites  as  well  as  the  size  of 
the  mound  was,  in  Peru,  a  sure  indication  of  the  state  and 
power  of  the  dead.  Such  was  the  case  among  the  ancients. 
Beowulf  requests  that  his  people  may  raise  a  barrow  over  him 
proportionate  in  size  to  the  respect  entertained  for  his  memory : 

'•  Old  of  life,  he  spake  a  whole  multitude  of  words,  and  com 
manded  me  to  greet  you ;  he  bade  that  ye  should  make,  accord 
ing  to  the  deeds  of  your  friend,  on  the  place  of  the  funeral  pile, 
the  lofty  barrow,  large  and  famous,  even  as  he  was  of  men  the 
most  worthy  warrior." — (Beowulf,  I.,  6183.) 

In  the  subsequent  burial  of  Beowulf,  the  burning  of  the  body, 
the  sacrifices,  the  games,  the  songs  and  orations  in  praise  of  the 
dead  and  in  commemoration  of  his  deeds,  we  have  a  vivid  pic 
ture  of  the  funeral  customs  of  the  olden  time, — customs  not 
peculiar  to  the  old  Continent,  but  prevailing  among  the  nations 


212  PROBABLE    FUNERAL    RITES,  ETC. 

of  the  New  "World,  and  probably  attending  the  burials  of  the 
ancient  people  whose  monuments  we  are  investigating.  Beowulf  s 
people  carry  into  effect  his  desire,  and  the  poem  ends  with  this 
description  of  his  interment : — 

"  For  him  then  prepared  the  people  of  the  Geats  a  funeral 
pile  upon  the  earth,  strong,  hung  round  with  helmets,  with  war- 
boards  (shields),  and  with  bright  byrnies,  as  he  had  requested. 
The  heroes,  weeping,  then  laid  down  in  the  midst  the  famous 
chieftain,  their  dear  lord.  Then  began  on  the  hill  the  mightiest 
of  funeral  fires  the  warriors  to  awake :  the  wood-smoke  rose 
aloft  dark  from  the  fire ;  noisily  it  went,  mingled  with  weep 
ing.  The  mixture  of  the  wind  lay.  on  till  it  the  bone-house 
[body]  had  broken,  hot  in  his  breast.  Sad  in  mind,  sorry  in 
mood,  they  mourned  the  death  of  their  lord.  *  *  *  Made 
then  the  people  of  the  Westerns  a  mound  over  the  sea ;  it  was 
high  and  broad,  by  the  sailors  over  the  waves  to  be  seen  afar. 
And  they  built  up,  during  ten  days,  the  beacon  of  the  war-re 
nowned,  the  [king]  of  swords.  They  surrounded  it  with  a  wall, 
in  the  most  honorable  manner  that  wise  men  could  desire.  They 
put  into  the  mound  rings  and  bright  gems,  all  such  ornaments 
as  the  fierce-minded  men  had  before  taken  from  the  hoard :  they 
suffered  the  earth  to  hold  the  treasures  of  warriors,  gold  on  the 
sand ;  there  it  yet  remaineth,  as  useless  to  men  as  it  was  of  old. 
Then  round  the  mound  rode  of  beasts  of  war,  of  nobles,  a  troop, 
twelve  in  all ;  they  would  speak  about  the  king,  they  would  call 
him  to  mind,  relate  the  song  of  words,  speak  themselves ;  they 
praised  his  valor,  and  his  deeds  of  bravery  they  judged  with 
honor,  as  it  is  fitting  that  a  man  his  friendly  lord  should  extol, 
should  love  him  in  his  soul,  when  he  must  depart  from  his  body 
to  become  valueless.  Thus  mourned  the  people  of  the  Geats, 
his  domestic  comrades,  their  dear  lord ;  they  said  that  he  was 
of  the  kings  of  the  world  the  mildest  of  men  and  the  most  gen 
tle,  the  most  gracious  to  his  people,  and  the  most  jealous  of 
glory"— (Beowulf,  v.  6268.) 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

THE     MOUNDS     NOT      GENERAL      BURIAL-PLACES;      GREAT      INDIAN 
CEMETERIES    OF    THE    WEST. 

ALLUSION  has  been  made,  in  the  body  of  this  work,  to  the 
large  cemeteries  which  have  been  discovered  at  various  places 
in  the  Mississippi  valley,  and  the  suggestion  ventured  that  they 
owe  their  origin  to  practices  similar  to  those  which  prevailed 
among  the  Indians  of  New  York  and  Canada,  of  collecting,  at 
stated  intervals,  the  bones  of  the  dead,  and  depositing  them  in 
pits  or  trenches.  There  are  many  interesting  facts  connected 
with  these  cemeteries,  which  merit  attention,  and  justify  a  re 
currence  to  the  subject. 

Nothing  is  more  common  in  the  accounts  given  of  Western 
mounds,  than  the  loose  and  very  vague  remark,  that  certain 
ones  or  all  of  them  "  contain  vast  quantities  of  human  bones." 
To  this  circumstance  seems  attributable,  in  a  great  degree,  the 
prevailing  and  very  erroneous  impression,  that  the  mounds  are 
simple  tombs,  or  rather  grand  cemeteries,  containing  the  re 
mains  of  an  entire  race.  The  Grave  Creek  mound  is  spoken  of 
by  Atwater,  Doddridge.  and  other  writers,  as  a  grand  mausoleum 
"undoubtedly  containing  many  thousand  human  skeletons." 
An  investigation  has  shown  it  to  contain  but  a  very  few  skele 
tons  ;  and  examinations  of  several  other  tumult,  characterized 
in  similar  extravagant  terms,  have  been  attended  with  like  re 
sults.  The  mounds  of  the  West  can  be  regarded  only  to  a  very 
limited  extent  as  the  burial-places  of  the  people  who  built  them. 
But  little  more  than  one-half  of  their  number  are  clearly  sepul- 


214 


GREAT    INDIAN    CEMETERIES    OF    THE    WEST. 


chral  in  their  character;    and  these,  except  in  extraordinary 
cases,  contain  but  a  single  skeleton  each.* 

We  must  seek  elsewhere  for  the  general  depositories  of  the 
dead  of  the  mound-builders.     It  has  been  suggested  that  the 


*  The  authority  of  Mr.  Samuel  R.  Brown,  author  of  the  "  Western 
Gazetteer,  or  Emigrant's  Directory,"  published  in  1817,  has  been  quoted 
by  various  writers  on  American  antiquities,  and  has  been  supposed  to 
sustain  the  conclusion  that  the  mounds  were  vast  receptacles  of  the  dead, 
slain  in  battle.  It  will  be  seen,  however,  from  Mr.  Brown's  account  of  his 
explorations,  that  the  mounds  which  he  examined  contained  depositcs  of 
different  dates,  one  of  which  was  clearly  of  the  modern  Indians,  though 
the  fact  does  not  appear  to  have  suggested  itself  to  the  mind  of  the  ex 
plorer,  or  to  have  occurred  to  the  writers  who  have  followed  him.  The 
material  portions  of  Mr.  Brown's  account  are  subjoined  : 

"  We  examined  from  fifteen  to  twenty  of  these  mounds.  In  some, 
whose  height  was  from  fifteen  to  twenty  feet,  we  could  not  find  more 
than  four  or  five  skeletons.  In  one,  not  the  least  appearance  of  a  human 
bone  was  to  be  found.  Others  were  so  full  of  bones  as  to  warrant  the 
belief  that  they  originally  contained  at  least  one  hundred  bodies ;  chil 
dren  of  different  ages  and  the  full-grown  seemed  to  have  been  piled  to 
gether  promiscuously.  *  *  *  In  the  progress  of  our  researches,  we 
obtained  ample  testimony  that  these  masses  of  earth  were  the  work  of  a 
savage  people.  We  discovered  a  piece  of  glass  resembling  the  bottom  of 
a  tumbler,  but  concave;  several  stone  axes,  etc.  *  *  *  There  was 
no  appearance  of  iron ;  one  of  the  skulls  was  found  pierced  by  an  arrow, 
which  was  still  sticking  in  it,  driven  about  half  way  through  before  its 
force  was  spent.  It  was  about  six  inches  long.  The  subjects  of  this 
mound  were  doubtless  killed  in  battle  and  hastily  buried.  In  digging 
to  the  bottom  of  them,  we  invariably  came  to  a  stratum  of  ashes,  from 
six  inches  to  two  feet  thick,  which  rests  on  the  original  earth.  These 
ashes  contain  coals,  fragments  of  brands,  and  pieces  of  calcined  bones. 
From  the  quantity  of  ashes  and  bones,  and  the  appearance  of  the  earth 
underneath,  it  was  evident  that  large  fires  must  have  been  kept  burning 
for  several  days  previous  to  commencing  the  mound,  and  that  a  consid 
erable  number  of  victims  must  have  been  sacrificed  by  burning  on  the 
spot." — (Brown's  Gazetteer  of  the  West,  p.  58.) 

"  That  some  of  the  mounds  served  for  tombs,  we  have  the  conclusive 
evidence  that  they  abound  in  human  bones.  It  has  often  been  asserted, 


GREAT    INDIAN    CEMETERIES    OF    THE    WEST.  215 

caves  of  the  limestone  regions  of  Kentucky  and  Tennessee  were 
used  as  sepulchres.  Some  of  these  are  represented  to  have  con 
tained  thousands  of  bodies,  preserved  by  the  natural  properties 
of  these  caves,  clothed  in  strange  fabrics,  composed  of  a  coarse 
species  of  cloth  interwoven  with  feathers,  in  fanciful  and  taste 
ful  patterns,  resembling  the  feather-cloth  of  Mexico,  of  which 
such  glowing  descriptions  were  given  by  the  conquerors.*  Ex- 

that  some  of  the  mounds  are  full  of  bones  that  are  perforated,  as  though 
the  living  subjects  were  slain  in  battle ;  and  that  the  skeletons  are  heaped 
together  in  promiscuous  confusion,  as  if  buried  after  a  conflict,  without 
order  or  arrangement.  The  bones  which  we  have  seen  were  such,  and  so 
arranged,  as  might  be  expected  in  the  common  process  of  solemn  and 
deliberate  inhumation." — (Flint.) 

"  The  vulgar  opinion  has  been  circulated  by  various  writers,  that  un 
der  these  mounds  were  buried  the  bodies  of  those  who  were  slain  in 
battle.  They  probably  pertained  to  the  particular  tribe  of  a  country, 
and  were  restricted  to  the  principals  among  them ;  for  it  is  not  to  be  sup 
posed  that  the  inhabitants  were  indiscriminately  buried  under  tumuli. 
Their  burial-places  must  be  sought  elsewhere." — (Sir  Richard  C.  Hoare, 
an  the  Barrows  of  Great  Britain.') 

*  The  nitrous  caves  of  Kentucky  were  found  to  contain  a  consid 
erable  number  of  desiccated  human  bodies ;  they  were  termed  mummies, 
and,  for  a  time,  created  much  speculation.  They  were  generally  en 
veloped  in  skins,  in  a  species  of  bark,  or  in  feather-cloth,  and  placed  in 
a  squatting  posture.  It  is  said  that  hundreds  of  these  were  taken  from 
a  cave  near  Lexington,  and  burned  by  the  early  settlers.  The  bodies  ap 
pear  to  have  owed  their  preservation  entirely  to  natural  causes.  It  has 
been  inferred,  from  the  resemblance  between  the  envelopes  of  these 
bodies  and  the  feather-cloths  of  Mexico,  that  the  people  who  thus  de 
posited  their  dead  were  very  ancient,  and  probably  an  offshoot  from 
Mexico.  We  have,  however,  abundant  evidence  to  show  that  fabrics  of 
this  kind  were  manufactured  by  the  Southern  Indian  tribes.  The  chroni 
cler  of  Soto's  expedition  reports  having  found  "  a  great  many  mantles 
made  of  white,  red,  green,  and  blue  feathers,  very  convenient  for  the 
winter."  Du  Pratz  also  describes  this  feather  fabric  as  of  common  use ; 
and  Adair  observes:  "They  likewise  make  turkey-feather  blankets, 
twisting  the  inner  end  of  the  feathers  very  fast  in  a  double,  strong  thread 
of  the  inner  bark  of  the  mulberry,"  etc.— (Am.  Inds.,  p.  423.) 


216  GREAT    INDIAN    CEMETERIES    OF    THE    WEST. 

tensive,  however,  as  these  cave  depositories  may  have  been,  they 
fail,  in  view  of  the  abundant  evidences  of  a  vast  ancient  popu 
lation,  to  answer  the  question,  What  became  of  the  dead  of  the 
ancient  people?  In  Tennessee,  as  well  as  in  Kentucky  and 

In  May,  1835,  a  cavern  cemetery  was  discovered  on  the  banks  of  the 
Ohio  River,  opposite  Steubenville.  It  was  thirty  or  forty  feet  in  cir 
cumference,  and  filled  with  human  bones.  "  They  were  of  all  ages,  and 
had  been  thrown  in  indiscriminately  after  the  removal  of  the  flesh.  They 
seemed  to  have  been  deposited  at  different  periods  of  time,  those  on  the 
top  alone  being  in  a  good  state  of  preservation." — {Morton's  Crania 
Americana,  p.  235.)  Dr.  Morton  regards  these  remains  as  of  no  great  age, 
and  as  undoubtedly  belonging  to  individuals  of  the  barbarous  tribes. 

A  similar  cave  was  discovered  some  years  ago,  at  Golconda,  on  the 
Ohio  River,  Illinois.  It  contained  many  skeletons. — {Crania  Am.,  p. 
234.)  Henry,  in  his  travels,  mentions  a  cave  in  the  island  of  Mackinaw, 
in  Lake  Huron,  the  floor  of  which  was  covered  with  human  bones.  He 
expresses  the  opinion  that  it  was  formerly  filled  with  them.  The  Indians 
knew  nothing  concerning  the  deposite ;  our  author,  nevertheless,  ven 
tures  the  conjecture,  that  the  cave  was  an  ancient  receptacle  of  the  bones 
of  prisoners  sacrificed  at  the  Indian  war-feasts.  "  I  have  always  observed," 
he  continues,  "  that  the  Indians  pay  particular  attention  to  the  bones  of 
sacrifices,  preserving  them  unbroken,  and  depositing  them  in  some  place 
exclusively  appropriated  to  the  purpose."— {Travels,  p.  111.) 

In  the  State  of  Durango,  Mexico,  some  cave  depositories  have  been 
discovered,  which  have  given  rise  to  very  exaggerated  accounts.  Some 
of  them  have  represented  that  as  many  as  a  million  of  bodies  were  found 
in  a  single  cavern.  All  the  information  which  we  have,  that  can  be  re 
garded  as  authentic,  is  contained  in  Dr.  Wislizenus's  Memoir  of  the  Ex 
pedition  under  Doniphan,  published  by  order  of  Congress,  p.  69.  After 
crossing  the  Rio  Nasas,  we  arrived  at  San  Lorenzo.  "  On  the  right 
hand,  or  south  of  us,  was  a  chain  of  limestone  hills  running  parallel  to 
the  road.  At  the  foot  of  a  hill  belonging  to  the  chain,  Sefior  de  Gaba 
pointed  out  a  place  to  me  where,  some  years  ago,  a  remarkable  discovery 
had  been  made.  In  the  year  1838,  a  Mexican,  Don  Juan  Flores,  perceived 
the  hidden  entrance  to  a  cave.  He  entered,  and  found  nearly  one  thou 
sand  well-preserved  Indian  corpses,  squatted  together  on  the  ground, 
with  their  hands  folded  below  their  knees.  They  were  dressed  in  fine 
blankets,  made  of  the  fibres  of  lechuguilla,  with  sandals  made  of  a  species 
of  liana,  and  were  ornamented  with  colored  scarfs,  with  beads  of  seeds 


GREAT    INDIAN    CEMETERIES    OF    THE    WEST. 


217 


Missouri,  extensive  cemeteries  have  been  discovered.  For  a 
description  of  some  of  those  of  Tennessee,  the  public  are  in 
debted  to  Prof.  TROOST,  of  Nashville. — (Trans.  Am.  Ethnol. 
Soc.,  vol.  I.,  p.  358.)  One  is  mentioned  by  him  in  the  imme 
diate  vicinity  of  that  town,  which  is  about  a  mile  in  length,  and 
of  indefinite  breadth.  No  less  than  six  others  equally  exten 
sive  are  found  within  a  radius  of  ten  miles.  The  graves  are 
lined  with  flat  stones,  and  occur  in  ranges.  "Within  these,  skele 
tons  much  decayed  are  found,  also  various  relics,  some  of  which 
are  recognized  as  identical  with  those  found  in  the  mounds  of 
Ohio,  suggesting  a  common  origin.  This  identity  is  further  in 
dicated,  though  not  established,  by  the  presence  of  mounds  and 
other  structures  in  the  vicinity  of  these  cemeteries.  Beads, 
composed  of  perforated  shells,  of  the  genus  Marginella,  were 
discovered  by  Dr.  Troost  in  the  graves.  These  have  been  found 
in  both  the  sepulchral  and  sacrificial  mounds  north  of  the  Ohio ; 
as  have  also  beads  and  other  ornaments,  made  probably  from 
the  columella  of  the  strombus  gigas,  similar  to  those  found  by 
this  explorer  in  the  graves  above  mentioned.  How  far  these 
coincidences  may  be  traced,  can  only  be  determined  when  the 
same  mind  which  has  investigated  one  class  of  remains  shall  be 
able  to  investigate  the  other. 

Near  Sparta,  in  Tennessee,  are  several  extensive  cemeteries, 
in  which  the  bones  of  the  dead  were  deposited,  inclosed  in  short 

of  fruits,  polished  bones,  etc.  This  is  a  very  insufficient  account  of  this 
mysterious  burying-place.  The  Mexicans  supposed  it  belonged  to  the 
Lipans,  an  old  Indian  tribe  which  from  time  immemorial  has  roved  and 
still  roams  over  the  Bolson  de  Mahimi.  I  had  heard  at  Chihuahua  of 
this  discovery,  and  was  fortunate  enough  to  secure  a  skull  which  had 
been  taken  from  the  cave." 

Among  the  South  American  nations,  cave-burial  seems  to  have  been 
common.  Humboldt  describes  a  cave-sepulchre  of  the  Atures,  which 
he  discovered  on  the  sources  of  the  Orinoco.  It  contained  nearly  six 
hundred  skeletons,  regularly  arranged  in  baskets  and  earthen  vases. 
Some  of  the  skeletons  had  been  bleached,  others  painted,  and  all,  it  is 
worthy  of  remark,  had  been  deposited  after  the  removal  of  the  flesh. 
10 


218  GREAT    INDIAN    CEMETERIES    OF    THE    WEST. 

coffins  or  boxes,  made  of  flat  stones.  These  coffins  measure 
about  two  feet  in  length  and  nine  inches  in  depth.  A  small, 
rude,  earthen  vessel,  accompanied  by  some  small  shells,  is  usually 
found  near  the  head  of  each  skeleton. — (Feather  stonhaugtts 
Trav.,  p.  48.)  Similar  burial-places  are  found  in  Missouri,  par 
ticularly  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Marimec  River.  The  "  coffins  " 
are  neatly  constructed  of  long  flat  stones,  planted  vertically,  and 
adapted  to  each  other  edge  to  edge,  so  as  to  form  a  continuous 
wall.  At  either  end  of  the  grave  the  stones  project  a  little 
above  the  surface.  These  stone  sarcophagi  are  usually  from 
three  to  four,  but  sometimes  as  many  as  six  feet  in  length.  The 
bones  in  these  appear  to  have  been  deposited  after  having  been 
separated  from  the  flesh,  in  accordance  with  a  practice  well 
known  to  have  been  common  among  many  Indian  tribes. — 
(Bectts  Gaz.  of  Missouri,  p.  274 ;  James's  Exped.,  vol.  I.,  p. 
55.)  Other  extensive  cemeteries  are  found  in  various  parts  of 
the  country.  One  near  Alexandria,  in  Arkansas,  is  said  to  be 
a  mile  square.* 

A  very  extensive  cemetery  has  been  discovered  in  Bracken 
county,  Kentucky,  occupying  nearly  the  whole  of  the  "  bottom  " 

or  plain,  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Ohio,  between  Bracken  and 

» 

*  Accounts  of  a  number  of  these  ancient  cemeteries  are  given  by 
Gen.  Lewis  Collins,  in  his  recently  published  History  of  Kentucky,  from 
which  the  following  notices  are  condensed.  Six  miles  N.  E.  of  Bow 
ling  Green,  Warren  county,  there  is  a  cave  which  has  a  perpendicular 
descent  of  about  thirty  or  forty  feet.  At  the  bottom  are  vast  quantities 
of  human  bones. — (p.  541.)  On  the  north  bank  of  Green  River,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Bowling  Green,  are  a  great  many  ancient  graves ;  some  of 
which  are  formed  of  stones  set  edgewise.  A  similar  cemetery  occurs 
near  the  mouth  of  Peter's  creek,  on  Big  Barren  River ;  the  bones  are 
inclosed  in  stone  coffins,  which  are  about  three  feet  long,  and  from  one 
.to  one  and  a  half  wide.  On  the  same  river,  three  miles  above  Glasgow, 
and  on  Skegg's  creek,  five  miles  S.  W.  of  the  same  place,  are  caves  con 
taining  human  bones ;  those  in  the  last-named  cavern  seem  to  be  exclu 
sively  the  bones  of  small  children. — (p.  177.)  Similar  caverns  are  found 
in  Union  and  Meade  counties,  all  of  which  are  said  to  contain  human 
bones  in  abundance. 


GREAT    INDIAN    CEMETERIES    OF    THE    WEST.         219 

Turtle  creeks.  The  village  of  Augusta  has  been  built  upon  it 
in  latter  times.  The  following  account  of  this  cemetery  was 
communicated  to  the  author  by  Gen.  John  Payne,  of  Augusta. 
It  will  be  observed  that  iron  was  discovered  in  some  of  the 
graves ;  which  demonstrates  that  a  portion  of  the  burials  took 
place  since  communication  was  established  between  the  whites 
and  Indians,  and  very  likely  within  the  18th  century. 

"  The  beautiful  bottom  upon  which  it  stands,  extends  from 
one  creek  to  the  other,  about  a  mile  and  a  half,  and  averaging 
about  800  yards  wide.  The  town  is  laid  off  at  the  upper  end 
of  the  bottom.  The  hill  back  of  it  is  high,  but  not  precipitous ; 
and  upon  arriving  at  the  summit,  it  almost  immediately  falls 
toward  the  south  with  a  gentle  but  deep  descent,  and  immedi 
ately  there  rises  another  hill.  I  am  thus  particular,  that  you 
may  have  a  knowledge  of  the  ground  where  now  rest  the  skele 
tons  of  hundreds,  perhaps  thousands,  of  an  ancient  race,  as  well 
as  of  the  surrounding  localities.  The  soil  of  the  bottom-land  is 
alluvial.  .'../ 

"  The  village  rests  upon  one  vast  cemetery :  indeed,  the 
whole  bottom  appears  to  have  been  a  great  burying-ground ;  for 
a  post  hole  can  hardly  be  dug  in  any  part  of  it  without  turning 
up  human  bones,  particularly  within  three  or  four  hundred 
yards  of  the  river  bank.  The  ground  appears  to  have  been 
thrown  up  into  ridges,  one  end  resting  on  the  river  bank,  and 
the  other  extending  out  some  two,  others  three  hundred  yards, 
with  depressions  between  of  about  one  hundred  feet,  the  ridges 
rising  to  an  elevation  of  about  three  feet,  and  are  about  fifty  or 
sixty  yards  wide.  These  ridges  are  full  of  human  skeletons, 
regularly  buried.  My  house,  at  the  lower  end  of  the  village, 
stands  upon  one  of  these  ridges :  and  in  excavating  a  foundation 
for  the  basement  story,  seventy  by  sixty  feet,  and  four  feet  deep, 
we  exhumed  one  hundred  and  ten  skeletons,  numbered  by  the 
skulls ;  but  there  were  several  more,  the  skulls  of  which  were  so 
much  decayed  and  intermingled  with  others  that  I  did  not  take 
them  into  the  calculation.  I  have  no  doubt  that  there  were  at 


220  GREAT    INDIAN    CEMETERIES    OF    THE    WEST. 

least  one  hundred  and  forty  bodies  buried  within  the  bounds 
above  mentioned ;  and  then  on  every  side  the  skeletons  had 
been  severed,  a  part  taken  away  while  the  remains  were  left 
sticking  in  the  wall.  My  garden,  extending  one  hundred  and 
fifty  feet  back  from  my  house,  is  manured  with  human  bones, 
and  is  very  productive.  I  cannot  turn  up  a  spadeful  of  earth 
without  disturbing  the  remains  of  the  ancient  dead. 

"  Those  exhumed  by  me,  I  have  said,  appeared  to  have  been 
regularly  buried ;  they  were  about  two  feet  below  the  surface 
generally,  but  some  not  more  than  a  foot  or  eighteen  inches, 
invariably  with  their  heads  toward  the  river — the  river  at  this 
point  running  south  70°  west  ;  some  had  rough  unhammered 
stones  extending  on  both  sides  the  full  length,  with  a  head  and 
foot  stone,  and  a  stone  covering  the  head  ;  others,  again,  would 
have  only  a  stone  on  each  side  of  the  head,  a  head  and  foot  stone, 
and  a  stone  covering  the  head ;  others,  only  a  head  and  foot  stone  ; 
and  others,  and  much  the  greatest  number,  had  '  nothing  to 
mark  the  ground  where  they  were  laid.'  Most  of  the  bones 
were  entire ;  but  when  exposed  to  the  atmosphere,  many  soon 
crumbled  into  dust,  though  others  remained  quite  firm.  Several 
of  the  skulls,  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  I  had  in  my  house 
for  months,  until  they  were  broken  up.  The  teeth  appeared 
sound  :  I  do  not  recollect  an  instance  of  defective  teeth  ;  there 
were  many  absent  teeth,  but  this  evidently  arose  from  their 
dropping  out  after  burial.  There  were  some  skeletons  of 
children  :  the  bones  of  those  mouldered  into  dust  almost  imme 
diately. 

"  Many  articles  of  Indian  ornament,  use,  and  warfare  were 
excavated,  such  as  arrow-heads  of  flint  and  bone,  glass  beads, 
and  that  peculiar  kind  of  ancient  Indian  pottery,  formed  of  clay 
and  pulverized  or  pounded  muscle-shells,  which  had  evidently 
received  the  action  of  heat  to  harden  it.  Some  of  the  speci 
mens  of  the  latter  were  very  perfect,  with  well-formed  ears,  like 
our  pottery  ware ;  some  well-formed,  handsome  stone  pipes, 


GREAT    INDIAN    CEMETERIES    OF    THE    WEST.  221 

glass  beads,  both  black  and  blue,  ornaments  of  bone,  etc.  The 
other  ridges,  where  they  have  been  opened,  have  exhibited  like 
results  :  they  are  full  of  human  bones,  apparently  regularly 
buried ;  but  the  skeletons  have  not  been  always  found  to  lie  at 
right  angles  with  the  river,  but  sometimes  parallel,  and  at  other 
times  diagonally.  Upon  this  bottom,  and  covering  these  re 
mains  in  1792,  when  the  bottom  was  first  settled,  stood  some 
of  the  largest  trees  of  the  forest.  "We  have  sycamores  now 
standing  on  the  bank,  between  these  remains  and  the  river,  five 
feet  in  diameter  at  the  stump. 

"  There  is  another  fact  which  perhaps  I  should  mention. 
Maj.  Davis,  who  owned  a  farm  on  the  Augusta  bottom,  about 
half  a  mile  below  the  village,  passing  opposite  his  lands  where 
a  part  of  the  bank  had  fallen  into  the  river,  discovered  a  bone 
sticking  out  of  the  bank  ;  and  upon  drawing  it  out,  it  proved  to 
be  the  bone  of  the  right  arm,  and  upon  the  wrist  there  were 
three  hammered  iron  rings.  They  were  evidently  of  manufac 
tured  iron,  round  and  formed  to  fit  the  wrist :  the  ends  brought 
together  but  not  welded  or  closed ;  the  iron  was  destroyed — it 
had  been  so  completely  oxydized  as  to  break  very  easily  ;  the 
workmanship  was  rough,  and  the  print  of  the  hammer  was  upon 
them. 

"  A  full  cart-load  of  bones,  taken  from  the  basement  story  of 
my  house,  I  had  wheeled  off  into  my  garden ;  over  them  I 
erected  a  mound,  and  crowned  it  with  a  summer-house ;  and 
there  they  shall  rest  for  the  future. 

"  About  forty  years  ago,  Dr.  Overton,  then  of  Lexington,  was 
upon  a  visit  to  Augusta.  I  had  heard  of  a  large  pile  of  stones 
upon  the  spur  of  a  hill  overlooking  the  Ohio,  about  three  miles 
above.  We  went  to  visit  it,  worked  hard  nearly  all  day,  and, 
at  the  depth  of  about  five  feet  in  the  centre  of  the  pile,  found 
about  a  half  bushel  of  charcoal  and  ashes  ;  this  was  all  that  we 
could  discover. 

"  I  know  of  no  fortifications,  nor  of  any  mounds  or  tumuli,  in 


222  GREAT    INDIAN    CEMETERIES    OF    THE    WEST. 

the  county  of  Bracken.  At  Claysville,  near  the  bank  of 
Licking  River,  there  is  a  very  large  mound  ;  but  I  have  not 
been  informed  that  either  curiosity  or  scientific  research  has 
induced  the  citizens  to  open  it." 

Cemeteries,  analogous  to  those  in  Tennessee  and  Kentucky, 
as  already  observed,  exist  in  Ohio.  One,  in  the  extreme 
northeastern  part  of  the  State,  at  Conneaut,  on  Lake  Erie, 
covers  about  four  acres.  "  It  is  in  the  form  of  an  oblong 
square,  and  appears  to  have  been  laid  out  in  lots  running  north 
and  south,  and  exhibits  all  the  order  and  propriety  of  arrange 
ment  deemed  necessary  to  constitute  Christian  burial.  The 
graves  are  distinguished  by  slight  depressions,  disposed  in 
straight  rows,  and  were  originally  estimated  to  number  from 
two  to  three  thousand.  Some  were  examined  in  1800,  and 
found  to  contain  human  bones,  blackened  by  time,  which, 
on  exposure,  crumbled  to  dust.  On  the  first  examination  of 
the  ground  by  the  early  settlers,  they  found  it  covered  with  a 
primitive  forest.  A  number  of  mounds  occur  in  the  vicinity. 
The  pioneers  observed  that  the  lands  around  this  place  ex 
hibited  signs  of  having  once  been  thrown  up  in  squares  and 
terraces,  and  laid  out  in  gardens." — (How's  Gaz.  of  Ohio, 
p.  40.) 

A  cemetery  also  occurs  in  Coshocton  county,  in  the  same 
state,  which  is  described  by  Dr.  Hildreth  of  Marietta,  in  Silli- 
man's  Journal  of  Science  and  Art.  It  is  situated  a  short  dis 
tance  below  the  town  of  Coshocton,  on  an  elevated,  gravelly 
alluvion;  in  1830,  it  covered  about  ten  acres.  The  graves 
were  arranged  regularly  in  rows,  with  avenues  between  them  ; 
and  the  heads  of  the  skeletons  were  placed  to  the  west.  Traces 
of  wood  were  observed  around  some  of  the  skeletons ;  from 
which  circumstance  it  is  supposed  the  bodies  were  deposited  in 
coffins.  The  interments  had  evidently  been  what  may  be  de 
nominated  bone,  burials,  and  were  not  made  until  after  the 
decomposition  of  the  flesh.  The  graves,  consequently,  measure 
but  little  more  than  three  feet  in  length,  the  bones  being  dis- 


GREAT    INDIAN    CEMETERIES    OF    THE    WEST.  223 

membered  and  packed  upon  each  other,  or  flexed  together,  thus 
giving  rise  to  the  popular  error  of  an  aboriginal  pigmy  race. 
No  relics  are  described  as  accompanying  the  human  remains.* 
Near  this  cemetery  is  a  large  mound. 

How  far  these  cemeteries  may  be  regarded  as  the  deposito 
ries  of  the  mound-builders,  we  are  unprepared  to  say.  Dr. 
T roost  is  disposed  to  regard  the  "  pigmy  graves"  as  of  compar 
atively  late  origin,  and  distinguishes  between  them  and  the 
cemeteries  of  the  more  ancient  race.  He  observes :  "  Some 
consider  these  places  as  battle-grounds,  and  the-  graves,  those  of 
the  slain ;  but  that  is  not  the  case.  The  Indians  do  not  bury 
fallen  foes  :  they  leave  them  to-  be  devoured  by  wild  animals  ; 
their  own  slain  they  carry  to  their  towns,  or  hang  up  in  mats, 
on  trees.  They  have  their  burying  festivals,  when  they  collect 
the  bones  thus  preserved,  and  bury  them.  In  my  opinion,  the 
numerous  small  graves  which  are  attributed  to  a  race  of 
pigmies,  had  this  origin.  I  have  opened  numbers  of  them,  and 
found  them  filled  with  mouldering  bones,  which,  judging  from 
the  fragments,  belonged  to  common-sized  men.  The  bones  in 
these  graves  lay  without  order.  This  is  not  the  case  with  the 
old  extinct  race,  whose  graves  are  much  larger,  the  skeletons 
being  generally  stretched  out.  Nevertheless,  I  have  found 
these  also  more  or  less  doubled  up."*  It  is  extremely  probable 

*  It  is  said  that  in  one  of  the  graves  were  found  pieces  of  oaken  boards, 
together  with  some  wrought  iron  nails.    If  such  were  the  fact,  the  burial 
must  have  been  made  subsequent  to  the  commencement  of  European 
intercourse.    It  is  possible  that  this  was  a  burial  of  later  date  than  the 
others. 

*  Trans.  Am.  Ethnog.  Soc.,  vol.  I.,  p.  358.    Dr.  Troost  describes  these 
graves  as  "  rude  fabrics,  composed  of  rough  flat  stones  (mostly  a  kind 
of  slaty  lime  and  sandstone,  abundant  in  Tennessee).     These  were  laid 
on  the  ground,  in  an  excavation  made  for  the  purpose :  upon  them  were 
put,  edgewise,  two  similar  stones  of  about  the  same  length  as  the 
former ;  and  two  small  ones  were  put  at  the  extremities,  so  as  to  form 
an  oblong  box  of  the  size  of  a  man.    When  a  coffin  was  to  be  con 
structed  next  to  it,  one  of  the  side  stones  served  for  both,  and  conse- 


r 


224  GREAT    INDIAN    CEMETERIES    OF    THE    WEST. 

that  the  large  cemeteries  of  Ohio,  and  those  of  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee,  had  a  common  origin.  The  absence  of  stone  coffins 
in  the  former  may  perhaps  be  ascribed  to  the  greater  difficulty 
of  procuring  stones  for  the  purpose  of  constructing  them. 
Quite  a  number  of  stone  graves  have,  nevertheless,  been  found 
in  Ohio,  entirely  corresponding  in  structure  with  those  above 
described ;  all  of  which  answer  perfectly  to  the  dstvaen  or  kistvaen 
of  the  British  antiquaries. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  Dr.  Morton,  founded  upon  an  examination 
of  the  human  remains  found  in  some  of  the  "  pigmy  graves"  of 
Tennessee,  that  "  the  so-called  pigmies  of  the  "Western  country 
were  merely  children,  who,  for  reasons  not  readily  explained, 
but  which  actuate  some  religious  communities  of  our  own  time, 
were  buried  apart  from  the  adult  people  of  their  tribe." — (An 
Inquiry  into  the  Distinctive  Characteristics  of  the  American 
Race,  p.  44.) 

quently  they  lay  in  straight  rows,  in  one  layer  only:  I  never  found  one 
above  the  other." 

The  vulgar  notion  of  a  pigmy  race,  founded  upon  the  small  size  of 
some  of  the  ancient  stone  graves,  was  for  a  time  associated  with  another 
equally  absurd.  Some  skulls  of  old  persons  were  taken  from  those 
cemeteries:  the  teeth  had  been  lost  and  the  alveoles  obliterated,  ex 
posing  the  sharp  edge  of  the  jaw-bone  ;  whence  it  was  inferred  that  the 
ancient  pigmies  were  destitute  of  teeth,  and  had  jaws  like  those  of  a 
turtle! 


CHAPTER    XV. 

ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES. 

IT  has  elsewhere  been  observed,  "  that  the  structure,  not  less 
than  the  form  and  position,  of  a  large  number  of  the  aboriginal 
inclosures  of  the  Mississippi  valley,  render  it  certain  that  they 
were  designed  for  other  than  defensive  purposes." — (Ancient 
Monuments  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  p.  47.)  They  are  dis 
tinguished  for  their  regularity :  most  are  circular,  others  are 
square  or  rectangular,  and  a  few  are  elliptical  or  octagonal. 
Sometimes  these  figures  are  combined  in  the  same  group. 
While  the  defensive  works  for  the  most  part  occupy  high  hills 
and  other  commanding  positions,  and  in  their  form  correspond 
to  the  natural  features  of  the  ground  upon  which  they  are 
built,  the  sacred  inclosures  almost  invariably  occur  upon  the 
level  river  terraces,  where  the  surface  is  least  undulating.  The 
ditch,  in  the  few  instances  where  that  feature  is  discovered,  is, 
with  rare  exceptions,  interior  to  the  embankment ;  and,  in  pro 
curing  the  material  comprising  the  latter,  great  care  seems  to 
have  been  exercised  by  the  builders  to  preserve  the  surface  of 
the  surrounding  plain  smooth,  and,  as  far  as  practicable,  un 
broken.  The  further  fact  that  many  of  these  regular  works 
are  commanded  from  neighboring  eminences,  not  to  mention 
the  absence  of  supplies  of  water,  seems  conclusively  to  establish, 
that  whatever  may  have  been  their  secondary  purposes,  they 
were  not  primarily  connected  with  any  military  system. 

It  has  also  been  observed  that  these  inclosures  contain 
mounds,  evidently  of  sacred  origin.  Some  of  them  correspond 

10* 


1 


226          ABORIGINAL  SACRED  INCLOSURES. 

in  form  with  the  ancient  pyramidal  temples  of  Mexico  and 
Central  America,  and  others  cover  altars  upon  which  were 
offered  the  sacrifices  prescribed  by  the  aboriginal  ritual. 

Upon  the  basis  of  these  facts,  it  is  assumed  that  the  inclo- 
sures  of  the  West,  not  manifestly  defensive  in  their  purposes, 
were  in  some  way  connected  with  the  superstitions  of  their 
builders;  an  assumption  supported  by  the  well-known  fact  that 
the  most  imposing  monuments  of  human  labor  and  skill,  in 
early  times,  were  those  which  were  erected  under  the  influence 
of  religious  zeal. 

Proceeding  upon  this  assumption,  we  next  inquire  what 
relations  these  works  sustain  to  the  sacred  structures  of  the 
various  aboriginal  nations  of  this  continent,  and  to  those  erected 
by  the  primitive  nations  of  the  Old  World,  and  to  what  extent 
they  may  be  regarded  as  indicating  the  religious  beliefs  and 
conceptions  of  their  builders  1 

TEMPLES    OF    THE    NORTH    AMERICAN   INDIANS. 

The  temples  of  most  of  the  North  American  Indian  tribes 
were  of  the  rudest  character,  and  distinguished  only  by  their 
greater  size  from  the  ordinary  huts  of  the  natives.  The  ground 
which  they  occupied  was  considered  sacred,  and  an  area  around 
them  was  sometimes  inclosed  and  consecrated  to  religious 
rites.  Like  the  religious  structures  of  the  Druids,  they  were 
usually  places  of  deliberation  and  council ;  within  them  the 
priests  performed  the  ceremonies  of  their  religion,  and  within 
them  the  chiefs  and  warriors  gathered  to  consult  on  public 
affairs,  to  make  war  and  conclude  peace.  Within  them  also 
was  maintained  the  sacred  fire  of  those  nations  which  adhered 
to  the  requirements  of  sun-worship.  The  Narragansett  Indians 
of  New  England,  and  the  nations  of  Virginia,  both  kept  up 
perpetual  fires  in  their  temples,  as  did  also  the  Natchez  and 
the  other  tribes  which  assimilated  to  the  semi-civilized  natives 
of  Central  America. — (Purchases  Pilgrims,  IV.,  p.  1868; 
McCullocWs  Researches,  p.  3 ;  Loskiel,p.  39;  Catlin's  N.  A 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES.  227 

Indians,  vol.  I.,  pp.  88,  158.)  Among  the  Natchez,  these 
temples  were  sometimes  decorated  with  rude  carvings  and 
paintings,  which  probably  were  not  without  their  significance. 

Berkley  describes  with  some  minuteness  a  Quioccosan  or 
sacred  building  of  the  Virginia  Indians.  It  was  constructed  in 
precisely  the  same  manner  with  their  cabins  generally,  but  was 
somewhat  larger.  It  was  thirty  feet  long  by  eighteen  broad  ; 
and  around  and  at  some  distance  from  it,  were  "  set  up  posts, 
with  faces  carved  on  them  and  painted."  The  entrance  was 
barricaded  with  logs  ;  thus  there  was  neither  window  nor  pas 
sage  for  the  light,  except  the  door.  In  the  centre  of  the  build 
ing  was  a  fire-place,  and  near  one  end  was  suspended  a  partition 
of  mats,  behind  which,  on  shelves,  were  found  three  other  mats, 
carefully  rolled  up.  "  In  one  of  them,"  says  our  author,  "  we 
found  some  bones,  which  we  judged  to  be  the  bones  of  men  ;  in 
another  we  found  some  Indian  tomahawks,  finely  graven  and 
painted ;  and  in  the  third,  some  materials  which,  when  put 
together,  formed  a  rude  figure  of  a  man,  which  was  their  okee, 
kiwassee,  Quioccos,  or  idol." — (Hist.  Virginia,  p.  166.) 

Smith,  in  his  description  of  Virginia,  says,  that  "  in  every 
territory  of  a  Werowance  is  a  temple  and  a  priest — two  or 
three,  or  more."  He  mentions  also,  "  upon  the  top  of  certain 
red  sandy  hills,  great  houses  filled  with  images  of  their  kings 
and  devils,  and  tombs  of  their  predecessors.  Which  houses  are 
neere  sixty  foot  in  length,  built  arborwise.  This  place  they 
account  so  holy,  that  none  but  priests  or  kings  dare  come  into 
it,  nor  the  savages  dare  not  go  up  in  boats  by  it,  but  that  they 
solemnly  cast  some  pieces  of  copper,  white  beads,  or  pocones  in 
the  river.  In  this  place  are  commonly  resident  seven  priests." — 
(Smith  in  Purchas,  vol.  IV.,  p.  1701.) 

Marchand  mentions  a  temple  among  the  natives  of  Coxe's 
Channel  (N.  "W.  Coast),  which  had  some  relation  to  the  primi 
tive  open  temples  of  the  Old  World.  "  It  is  surrounded  by 
strong  posts,  seven  or  eight  feet  high,  in  which  are  preserved 


228 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES. 


all  the  tall  trees  that  are  then  growing ;  but  all  the  shrubs  are 
carefully  torn  up,  and  the  ground  is  everywhere  put  in  order 
and  well  beaten.  In  the  midst  of  this  inclosure,  where  a  cave 
is  sometimes  made,  is  seen  a  square  and  uncovered  edifice, 
constructed  with  handsome  planks,  the  workmanship  of  which 
is  admirable ;  and  a  stranger  cannot  behold  without  admiration 
that  they  are  twenty- five  feet  in  length,  by  four  in  breadth,  and 
two  and  a  half  inches  in  thickness." — (Marchand1  s  Voy.^  vol. 
I.,  p.  409.)  Yanegas  states  that  there  was  a  temple,  in  his  day. 
at  the  Island  of  St.  Catherines,  on  the  coast  of  California,  which 
had  a  spacious  level  court,  where  the  Indians  performed  their 
sacrifices.  The  place  of  the  altar  was  a  large  circular  space, 
with  an  inclosure  of  feathers  of  divers  colors ;  and  within  the 
circle  was  an  image  strangely  painted,  representing  some  devil, 
according  to  the  manner  of  the  Indians  of  Mexico,  holding  in 
his  hand  the  figures  of  the  sun  and  the  moon. — ( Vanegas's 
California,  vol.  I.,  p.  105.) 

Prince  Maximilian  has  described  to  us  the  "  Medicine  lodge  " 
of  the  Minataree  Indians,  of  which  the  subjoined  engraving 
(Fig.  41)  is  a  plan.  It  is  situated  in  the  centre  of  the  village, 
and  consists  of  an  elliptical  space,  one  hundred  and  twenty 


FIG.  41. 


feet  in  length,  inclosed  by  a  fence  ten  or  twelve  feet  high,  com 
posed  of  reeds  and  poles,  somewhat  inclining  inwards.  It  has 
an  entrance  to  the  left ;  d,  d,  d,  d,  are  four  fires ;  and  in  the 
semi-elliptical  recesses,  the  medicine  men  and  elders  of  the 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES. 


229 


tribe  have  their  seats. — (Travels  in  America,  p.  419.)  The 
place  occupied  by  the  spectators,  is  indicated  by  /,  /  The 
Mandans  had  similar  "  medicine  lodges,"  except  that  they  were 
circular  in  form.  They  had  also  a  sacred  area  in  the  centre  of 
their  village ;  and  within  it  was  placed  a  shrine  of  high  mys 
tery,  around  which  their  religious  dances  were  performed. 

It  would  be  profitless  to  inquire  further  into  the  character 
of  the  sacred  edifices,  "medicine  lodges,"  or  "  council  houses" 
of  the  hunter  tribes.  It  will  be  seen  at  once,  that  they  reflect 
little  if  any  light  upon  the  structures  under  notice. 

No  sooner,  however,  do  we  pass  to  the  southward,  and  arrive 
among  the  Creeks,  Natchez,  and  affiliated  Floridian  tribes, 
than  we  discover  traces  of  structures  which,  if  they  do  not 
entirely  correspond  with  the  regular  earth-works  of  the  West, 
nevertheless  seem  to  be  somewhat  analogous  to  them.  These 
natives,  it  will  be  remembered,  had  made  some  slight  advances 
in  civilization,  were  agricultural  in  their  habits,  lived  in  con 
siderable  towns,  had  a  systematized  religion,  and  sustained 
many  other  resemblances  to  the  semi-civilized  nations  of  the 
continent. 

Adair,  in  his  account  of  these  Indians,  frequently  mentions 
K  the  Holy  Square"  surrounding  their  temples,  and  within  which 
their  religious  rites  were  performed.  He  does  not,  however, 
descend  to  particularize  ;  and  we  are  left  to  conjecture  what 
were  its  dimensions,  and  how  its  boundaries  were  designated. 
It  must  have  been  of  considerable  size  ;  for  he  several  times 
speaks  of  it  as  receiving  an  entire  village  or  tribe,  at  the  time 
of  the  great  annual  festivals.  He  is  so  absorbed,  however,  in 
his  favorite  theory,  that  he  cannot  describe  any  feature  except 
by  the  name  borne  by  its  fancied  counterpart  among  the  Jews. 
So  we  are  not  surprised  in  finding,  within  "  the  Sacred  Square," 
and  standing  near  its  western  side,  a  Sanctum  Sanctorum,  or 
most  holy  place,  inclosed  by  a  mud-wall  about  breast  high.  It 
was  here  that  the  consecrated  vessels  of  earthenware,  conch- 


230         ABORIGINAL  SACRED  INCLOSURES. 

shells,  etc.,  were  deposited.  This  sacred  place,  according  to 
our  authority,  could  not  be  approached  by  any  but  the  magi  or 
priests.  Indeed,  so  great  a  holiness  attached  to  the  sacred 
squares  themselves,  that  it  was  believed  if  the  great  annual 
sacrifice  were  made  elsewhere,  it  would  not  only  be  unavailable 
for  the  purposes  required,  but  bring  down  the  anger  of  the  god 
to  propitiate  whose  favor  it  was  instituted,  viz.,  the  genial  god,  the 
god  of  almost  universal  adoration  among  rude  people,  the  fountain 
of  heat  and  light,  the  divine  fire,  The  Sun  !  Within  this  square, 
at  least  at  the  time  of  the  great  festival,  the  women  were  not 
allowed  to  enter,  nor  those  persons  who  had  neglected  to  com 
ply  with  certain  prescribed  purifying  ceremonies,  or  who  had 
been  guilty  of  certain  specified  crimes. 

The  deficiencies  in  Adair's  account  are  supplied  to  a  consid 
erable  extent  by  Bartram,  in  a  MS.  work  on  the  Creek  Indians, 
now  in  possession  of  Dr.  S.  T.  Morton,  of  Philadelphia.  He 
not  only  describes  the  "  public  squares  "  alluded  to  by  Adair, 
in  which  the  religious  ceremonies  of  the  Indians  were  per 
formed,  and  their  deliberative  councils  held,  but  also  com 
municates  the  interesting  and  important  fact  that  they  some 
times  appropriated  to  their  purposes  the  ancient  inclosures 
and  other  monuments  found  in  the  country,  and  concerning 
the  origin  of  which  they  professed  no  knowledge.  His  account, 
apart  from  its  bearings  on  the  questions  before  us,  has  a  general 
interest  which  justifies  its  insertion  entire. 

"CHUNK  YARDS. — The  'Chunk  Yards'  of  the  Muscogulges 
or  Creeks,  are  rectangular  areas,  generally  occupying  the  cen 
tre  of  the  town.  The  Public  Square  and  Rotunda,  or  Great 
Winter  Council  House,  stand  at  the  two  opposite  corners  of 
them.  They  are  generally  very  extensive,  especially  in  the 
large,  old  towns :  some  of  them  are  from  six  to  nine  hundred 
feet  in  length,  and  of  proportionate  breadth.  The  area  is 
exactly  level,  and  sunk  two,  sometimes  three  feet  below  the 
banks  or  terraces  surrounding  them,  which  are  occasionally 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES.  231 

two  in  number,  one  behind  and  above  the  other,  and  composed 
of  the  earth  taken  from  the  area  at  the  time  of  its  formation. 
These  banks  or  terraces  serve  the  purpose  of  seats  for  specta 
tors.  In  the  centre  of  this  yard  or  area  there  is  a  low  circular 
mound  or  eminence,  in  the  middle  of  which  stands  erect  the 
'  Chunk  Pole,'  which  is  a  high  obelisk  or  four-square  pillar 
declining  upwards  to  an  obtuse  point.*  This  is  of  wood,  the 
heart  or  inward  resinous  part  of  a  sound  pine  tree,  and  is  very 
durable ;  it  is  generally  from  thirty  to  forty  feet  in  height,  and 
to  the  top  is  fastened  some  object  which  serves  as  a  mark  to 
shoot  at,  with  arrows  or  the  rifle,  at  certain  appointed  times. 
Near  each  corner  of  one  end  of  the  yard  stands  erect  a  less 
pole  or  pillar,  about  twelve  feet  high,  called  a  '  slave  post,'  for 
the  reason  that  to  them  are  bound  the  captives  condemned  to 
be  burnt.  These  posts  are  usually  decorated  with  the  scalps 
of  slain  enemies,  suspended  by  strings  from  the  top.  They 
are  often  crowned  with  the  white  dry  skull  of  an  enemy. 

"  It  thus  appears  that  this  area  is  designed  for  a  public  place 
of  exhibition,  for  shows,  games,  etc.  Formerly,  there  is  little 
doubt,  most  barbarous  and  tragical  scenes  were  enacted  within 
them,  such  as  the  torturing  and  burning  of  captives,  who  were 
here  forced  to  run  the  gauntlet,  bruised  and  beaten  with  sticks 
and  burning  chunks  of  wood.  The  Indians  do  not  now  prac 
tise  these  cruelties  :  but  there  are  some  old  traders  who  have 
witnessed  them  in  former  times.  I  inquired  of  these  traders 
for  what  reason  these  areas  were  called  '  Chunk  Yards ;'  they 
were  in  general  ignorant,  yet,  for  the  most  part,  concurred  in  a 
lame  story  that  it  originated  in  the  circumstance  of  its  having 
been  a  place  of  torture,  and  that  the  name  was  but  an  inter 
pretation  of  the  Indian  term  designating  them.f 

*  This  pole,  it  may  here  be  observed,  corresponds  in  position  with 
certain  erect  stones,  found  by  Mr.  Stephens  and  other  travelers,  occu 
pying  the  centre  of  the  areas  inclosed  by  the  temples  of  Central  Amer 
ica  and  Yucatan,  and  which,  as  will  be  seen  in  due  time,  were  un 
doubtedly  phallic  emblems. 

t  According  to  Adair,  Du  Pratz,  and  other  writers,  the  Cherokees 


232  ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES. 

"I  observed  none  of  these  yards  in  use  in  any  of  the  Cher 
okee  towns ;  and  where  I  have  mentioned  them,  in  the  Chero 
kee  country,  it  must  be  understood  that  I  saw  only  the  remains 
or  vestiges  of  them  among  the  ruins  of  ancient  towns.  In  the 
existing  Cherokee  towns  which  I  visited,  although  there  were 
ancient  mounds  and  signs  of  the  yard  adjoining,  yet  the  yard 
was  either  built  upon  or  turned  into  a  garden  plat,  or  other 
wise  appropriated.  Indeed,  I  am  convinced  that  the  Chunk 
Yards  now  or  lately  in  use  among  the  Creeks  are  of  very 
ancient  date,  and  not  the  work  of  the  present  Indians  ;  although 
they  are  now  kept  in  repair  by  them,  being  swept  very  clean 
every  day,  and  the  poles  kept  up  and  decorated  in  the  manner 
I  have  described. 

"  The  following  plan,  Fig.  42 ,  will  illustrate  the  form  and 
character  of  these  yards. 

"  A.  The  great  area,  surrounded  by  terraces  or  banks. 

"  B.  A  circular  eminence,  at  one  end  of  the  yard,  commonly 
nine  or  ten  feet  higher  than  the  ground  round  about.  Upon 
this  mound  stands  the  great  Rotunda,  Hot  House,  or  Winter 
Council  House  of  the  present  Creeks.  It  was  probably 
designed  and  used  by  the  ancients  who  constructed  it,  for  the 
same  purpose. 

and  probably  the  Creeks  were  much  addicted  to  a  singular  game,  played 
with  a  rod  or  pole  and  a  circular  stone,  which  was  called  chungke.  Mr. 
Catliii  describes  this  game  as  still  existing  under  the  name  of  "  Tchung- 
kee"  among  the  Minitarees  and  other  tribes  on  the  Missouri.  It  also 
prevailed  among  some  of  the  Ohio  Indians.  It  has  been  suggested  that 
the  areas  called  chunk  or  chunky  yards  by  Bartram,  derived  their  names 
from  the  circumstance  that  they  were,  among  other  objects,  devoted 
to  games,  among  which  that  of  the  chungke  was  prominent.  This  sug 
gestion  derives  some  support  from  Adair.  who  says,  "  They  have,  near 
their  State  House,  a  square  piece  of  ground,  well  cleared;  and  fine  sand 
is  strewn  over  it  when  requisite  to  promote  a  swifter  motion  to  what 
they  throw  along  it."— (American  Indians,  p.  402.)  It  is  therefore  not 
improbable  that  these  square  areas  were  denominated  chungke  yards. 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES. 


233 


"  C.  A  square  terrace  or  eminence,  about  the  same  height 
with  the  circular  one  just  described,  occupying  a  position  at 
the  other  end  of  the  yard.  Upon  this  stands  the  Public 
Square. 

"  The  banks  inclosing  the  yard  are  indicated  by  the  letters 
&,  b,  b,  b ;  c  indicates  the  '  Chunk  Pole;  and  d,  d,  the  '  Slave 
Posts.1 


FIG.  42. 

"  Sometimes  the  square,  instead  of  being  open  at  the  ends,  as 
shown  in  the  plan,  is  closed  upon  all  sides  by  the  banks.  In 
the  lately  built  or  new  Creek  towns,  they  do  not  raise  a  mound 
for  the  foundation  of  their  rotundas  or  public  squares.  The 
yard,  however,  is  retained,  and  the  public  buildings  occupy 


234 


ABORIGINAL  SACRED  INCLOSURES. 


nearly  the  same  position  in  respect  to  it.    They  also  retain  the 
central  obelisk  and  the  slave  posts. 

ARRANGEMENT    OF    THE    PUBLIC    BUILDINGS. 

"  The  following  engraving,  Fig.  43,  exhibits  the  most  com 
mon  plan  or  arrangement  of  the  Chunk  Yard,  Public  Square, 
and  Rotunda,  in  the  modern  Creek  towns. 


FIG.  43. 

u  A.  The  Public  Square. 

"  B.  The  Rotunda :  #,  the  entrance  opening  toward  the 
square ;  the  three  circular  lines  show  the  rows  of  seats  or  rude 
sofas ;  the  punctures  show  the  posts  or  columns  which  support 
the  building;  c,  the  great  central  pillar,  surrounded  by  the 
spiral  fire  which  gives  light  to  the  edifice.* 

"  C.  Part  of  the  Chunk  Yard. 

*  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  our  author  has  not  given  the  dimensions 
of  the  "  Rotunda."  It  would  be  interesting  to  know  how  it  would  com 
pare,  in  that  respect,  with  the  small  circles  so  common  throughout  the 
West. 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES.  235 

li  Within  this  Rotunda,  they  seem  to  keep  the  Eternal  Fire, 
where  it  is  guarded  by  the  priests.  Within  it  the  new  fire  is 
kindled  on  the  occasion  of  the  Feast  of  the  First  Fruits.  No 
woman  .is  allowed  to  step  within  the  Rotunda,  and  it  is  death 
for  any  to  enter.  None  but  a  priest  can  bring  the  sacred  fire 
forth.  The  spiral  fire  in  the  centre  of  the  building  is  very 
curious :  it  seems  to  light  up  into  a  flame,  of  itself,  at  the  ap 
pointed  time ;  but  how  this  is  done  I  know  not. 

THE    PUBLIC    SQ.UARE. 

"  The  Public  Square  of  the  Creeks  consists  of  four  buildings 
of  equal  size,  placed  one  upon  each  side  of  a  quadrangular 
court.  The  principal  or  Council  House,  is  divided  transversely 
into  three  equal  apartments,  separated  from  each  other  by  a 
low  clay  wall.  This  building  is  also  divided  longitudinally  into 
two  nearly  equal  parts  ;  the  foremost  or  front  is  an  open  piazza, 
where  are  seats  for  the  council.  The  middle  apartment  is  for 
the  king  (mico),  the  great  war  chief,  second  head  man,  and  other 
venerable  and  worthy  chiefs  and  warriors.  The  two  others  are 
for  the  warriors  and  citizens  generally.  The  back  apartment 
of  this  house  is  quite  close  and  dark,  and  without  entrances, 
except  three  very  low  arched  holes  or  doors  for  admitting  the 
priests.  Here  are  deposited  all  the  most  valuable  public  things, 
as  the  eagle's  tail  or  national  standard,  the  sacred  calumet,  the 
drums,  and  all  the  apparatus  of  the  priests.  None  but  the 
priests  having  the  care  of  these  articles  are  admitted  ;  and  it  is 
said  to  be  certain  death  for  any  other  person  to  enter.* 

*  This  is  probably  the  apartment  designated  by  Adair  as  the  sanctum 
sanctorum.  Du  Pratz  (p.  851)  states  that  the  temples  of  the  Natchez 
were  divided  into  two  apartments,  in  the  larger  of  which  the  eternal  fire 
was  kept.  "  The  inner  apartment,"  he  observes,  "  was  very  dark,  receiv 
ing  no  light  except  what  came  in  at  the  door.  I  could  meet  nothing  here 
but  two  boards,  on  which  were  placed  some  things  like  small  toys,  which 
I  had  not  light  to  peruse."  These  sacred  inner  rooms  cannot  fail  to  re 
mind  us  of  the  dark  chambers  of  Palenque  and  Copan,  within  which  Mr. 


236  ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES. 

"  Fronting  this  is  another  building,  called  the  '  Banqueting 
House  ;'  and  the  edifices  upon  either  hand  are  halls  to  accommo 
date  the  people  on  public  occasions,  as  feasts,  festivals,  etc. 
The  three  buildings  last  mentioned  are  very  much  alike,  and 
differ  from  the  Council  House  only  in  not  having  the  close  back 
apartment. 

"  The  clay-plastered  walls  of  the  Creek  houses,  particularly 
of  the  houses  comprising  the  Public  Square,  are  often  covered 
with  paintings.  These  are,  I  think,  hieroglyphics  or  mystical 
writings,  of  the  same  use  and  purpose  with  those  mentioned  by 
historians  to  be  found  upon  the  obelisks,  pyramids,  and  other 
monuments  of  the  ancient  Egyptians.  They  are  much  after  the 
same  style  and  taste ;  and  though  I  never  saw  an  instance  of 
perspective  or  chiaro-oscuro,  yet  the  outlines  were  bold,  natural, 
and  turned  to  convey  some  meaning,  passion,  or  admonition, 
and  they  may  be  said  to  speak  to  those  who  can  read  them. 
The  walls  are  plastered  very  smooth  with  red  clay ;  then  the 
figures  or  symbols  are  drawn  with  white  clay,  paste,  or  chalk : 
if  the  walls  are  plastered  with  white  clay,  the  figures  are  sketched 
in  red.  brown,  or  bluish  paste. 

"  Almost  all  kinds  of  animals,  sometimes  plants,  flowers, 
trees,  etc.,  are  depicted ;  also  figures  of  men  in  various  attitudes, 
some  very  ludicrous  and  even  obscene.  In  some  instances,  the 
membrum  gencrationis  virile  is  represented ;  but  I  saw  no  in 
stance  of  indelicacy  in  a  female  figure.  Men  are  often  pictured 
with  the  head  and  other  members  of  different  kinds  of  animals, 
as  the  wolf,  buck,  hare,  horse,  buffalo,  snake,  duck,  turkey,  tiger, 
cat,  crocodile,  etc.,  etc.  All  these  animals,  on  the  other  hand, 
are  depicted  having  the  human  head  and  other  members,  as 


Stephens  discovered  the  mystical  tablets  described  in  his  volumes  on 
Central  America.  Nor  is  it  difficult  to  trace  a  correspondence  between 
the  pictured  walls  of  these  buildings,  as  described  in  the  text,  and  the 
sculptured  fronts  and  elaborately  painted  walls  of  the  Central  American 
temples. 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSTTRES. 


237 


also  the  head  and  members  of  other  animals,  so  as  to  appear 
monstrous. 


CREEK   TOWNS    AND   DWELLINGS. 


The  general  position  of  the  Chunk  Yard  and  Public  Build 
ings  of  the  Creeks,  in  respect  to  the  dwellings  of  the  Indians 
themselves,  is  shown  in  the  following  engraved  plan : 


a  0 


o  .....  J 


......  - 

I  ......  \  .....  .d 


' 


c/o 


s 


I  ........  l    p'T"! 


FIG.  44 

"  A  is  the  Rotunda ;  B,  the  Public  Square ;  C,  the  grand 
area,  or  Chunk  Yard.  The  habitations  of  the  citizens  are 
placed  with  considerable  regularity  in  streets  or  ranges,  as  in 
dicated  in  the  plan."* 

*  "  The  dwellings  of  the  Upper  Creeks  consist  of  little  squares,  or 
rather  of  four  oblong  houses  inclosing  a  square  area,  exactly  on  the  plan 
of  the  Public  Square.  Every  family,  however,  has  not  four  of  these 
houses :  some  have  but  three,  others  not  more  than  two,  and  some  but 
one,  according  to  the  circumstances  of  the  individual  or  the  number  of 
his  family.  Those  who  possess  four  buildings  have  a  particular  use  for 
each :  one  serves  for  a  cook-room  or  winter  lodging-house,  another  as  a 


238 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES. 


The  inference  might  not  unreasonably  be  drawn,  from  Bar- 
tram's  language,  that  the  rectangular  areas,  surrounded  by  em 
bankments,  as  also  the  square  and  circular  mounds  above  men 
tioned,  were  constructed  by  the  Creeks.  He,  however,  states 
explicitly  in  his  Travels,  that  the  country  in  which  these  re 
mains  occur  was  occupied  subsequently  to  the  arrival  of  Euro- 
summer  lodging-house  and  hall  for  visitors,  and  another  for  a  granary 
or  store-house,  etc. 

"  The  accompanying  cut  (Fig.  45)  illustrates  the  plan  of  the  dwelling 


FIG.  45. 

or  villa  of  a  Creek  chief  known  among  the  traders  by  the  name  of  Bos- 
ten.  A  is  the  area  inclosed  by  four  buildings :  the  one  upon  the  left,  e, 
was  his  lodging-house,  and  was  large  and  commodious ;  the  building  op 
posite  was  a  large,  square,  open  pavilion,  covered  by  a  cedar  roof,  which 
was  supported  by  two  rows  of  posts  or  pillars.  Between  each  range  of 
pillars  was  a  platform,  raised  about  two  feet  and  ascended  by  two  steps ; 
this  was  covered  with  checkered  mats  of  curious  workmanship,  woven 
of  splints  of  canes  variously  colored.  In  the  centre  of  the  pavilion  was  a 
square  platform,  raised  somewhat  higher  than  the  others,  and  also  cov 
ered  with  mats.  In  this  delightful,  airy  place,  visitors  were  received 
and  entertained.  The  remaining  two  buildings  were  used,  the  one  as  a 
cook-house,  the  other  as  a  store-house. 

"  The  Lower  Creeks,  or  Seminoles,  are  not  so  regular  in  their  build- 
ings,  public  or  private.    The  private  houses  of  the  Cherokees  consist  of 


G 


M- 


FIG.  46. 


one  oblong  log  building,  divided  transversely  into  several  apartments, 
with  a  portico  in  front ;  a  round  house,  D,  stands  a  little  distance  off,  and 
is  used  as  a  winter  lodging-house." 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES.  239 

peans  by  the  Cherokees,  who  were  afterward  dispossessed  by 
the  Creeks ;  and  that  "  it  was  probably,  many  ages  preceding 
the  Cherokee  invasion,  inhabited  by  a  single  nation  or  confed 
eracy,  governed  by  common  laws,  possessing  like  customs,  and 
speaking  the  same  language,  but  so  ancient  that  neither  the 
Creeks  nor  the  Cherokees,  nor  the  nations  they  conquered, 
could  render  any  account  by  whom  or  for  what  purposes  these 
monuments  were  erected."  He  also  inclines  to  the  belief,  that 
the  uses  to  which  these  structures  were  appropriated,  by  the 
existing  Indian  tribes,  were  not  widely  different  from  those  for 
which  they  were  originally  built.  Upon  this  point  he  adds : 
"  The  mounds  and  large  areas  adjoining  them  seem  to  have 
been  raised  in  part  for  ornament  and  recreation,  and  likewise 
to  serve  some  other  public  purpose,  since  they  are  always  so 
situated  as  to  command  the  most  extensive  prospect  over  the 
country  adjacent.  The  square  terraces  may  have  served  as  the 
foundations  of  fortresses ;  and  perhaps  the  great  pyramidal 
mounds  answered  the  purpose  of  look-outs,  or  were  high  places 
for  sacrifice."— (Travels,  p.  518.) 

From  this  account  we  gather  the  important  fact,  that  in  the 
centre  of  the  Creek  (as  also  of  the  Cherokee)  towns  was  a 
"  public  square,"  surrounded  by  edifices  devoted  to  public  pur 
poses  ;  and  that  accompanying  this  square,  and  placed  in  a  fixed 
position  in  respect  to  it,  was  an  edifice,  circular  in  form,  which 
was  more  especially  dedicated  to  religious  purposes,  and  within 
which  was  kept  up  the  eternal  fire.  In  some  cases  these  struc 
tures,  it  seems,  were  elevated  upon  mounds. 

Mr.  Payne,  in  his  MSS.,  thus  describes  the  great  Council 
House  of  the  Cherokees,  which  corresponds  with  the  "  Rotunda," 
mentioned  by  Bartram.  After  remarking  that  it  was  near  this 
that  the  dwellings  of  the  Uku  and  head  men  of  the  tribe  were 
erected,  and  that  it  was  always  situated  in  a  town  capable  of 
accommodating  a  great  number  of  people,  he  proceeds  : 

"  Every  part  bore  a  mystical  reference  to  the  sanctity  with 
which  they  regarded  the  number  seven.  Seven  posts  were  set 


240         ABORIGINAL  SACRED  INCLOSURES. 

deep  in  the  ground,  equi-distant  from  each  other,  so  as  to  form 
seven  equal  sides  ;  though  generally  the  roof,  when  it  touched 
the  ground,  as  it  sometimes  did,  was  entirely  circular.  Upon 
the  seven  posts  seven  very  long  beams  were  so  placed,  as  to 
rest  one  end  on  the  ground,  or  periphery  raised  two  or  three  feet 
•with  earth,  while  the  other  end  stretched  high  in  air,  and  all 
soon  met  at  a  point  directly  over  the  centre  of  the  floor.  Other 
pieces  of  timber  were  fastened  transversely  to  these,  answering 
for  ribs ;  at  first  they  were  thatched  with  grass,  and  over  it  a 
layer  of  clay,  surmounted  with  another  layer  of  grass,  so  as  to 
make  it  water-proof.  The  external  appearance  of  the  entire 
building  very  much  resembled  an  immense  charcoal-pit.  There 
was  an  opening  in  the  roof  for  the  escape  of  the  smoke.  The 
fire  was  in  the  centre.  Anciently,  they  say,  this  was  the  sacred 
fire  handed  down  from  above. 

"  The  Council  House  door  was  always  on  the  eastern  side, 
directly  toward  the  rising  sun.  Before  it  was  a  portico.  The 
seven  posts  which  supported  the  house  were  so  set,  that  one 
stood  directly  opposite  the  entrance,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
structure.  It  was  painted  white,  and  had  pins  and  shelves 
attached  to  it,  on  which  were  hung  or  laid  all  the  holy  things 
connected  with  their  worship.  *  *  *  The  space  which  was 
regarded  as  most  sacred,  was  that  immediately  back  of  the  seat 
of  the  Ukuj  near  the  white  post  already  mentioned.  Among 
the  sacred  things  kept  here  were  the  sacred  arks,  and  smaller 
arks  of  clay  for  conveying  the  holy  fire.  *  *  *  Adjacent 
to  the  Council  House,  there  was  a  large  public  square,  the 
sides  formed  by  four  one-story  structures.  The  entrances  at 
each  corner  were  wide  and  open.  These  structures  were  open 
in  front  like  piazzas,  and  each  one  was  partitioned  off  into 
several  divisions,  etc." 

The  embankment  designating  the  outlines  of  the  structure 
here  described,  may  be  regarded  as  throwing  direct  light  upon 
the  origin  of  the  small  circles  so  abundant  in  the  valley  of  the 
Ohio. 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES.  241 

In  the  account  of  La  Salle's  last  expedition  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Mississippi,  published  by  the  Chevalier  Tonti,  we  have  a 
brief  notice  of  the  Taencas  or  Tenzas,  from  which  the  following 
interesting  passages,  relating  to  the  questions  before  us,  are 
extracted. 

"  As  the  first  village  of  the  Taenca  stands  on  the  other  side 
of  a  lake  which  is  eight  leagues  in  circumference,  and  half  a 
league  over,  we  were  forced  to  take  a  canoe  to  cross  it.  As  soon 
as  we  landed,  I  was  surprised  to  see  the  grandeur  of  the  village, 
and  the  order  of  the  cottages ;  they  are  placed  in  divers  rows, 
and  in  a  straight  line,  round  about  a  large  space,  being  all  made 
of  earth  and  covered  over  with  mats  of  cane.  "We  presently 
took  notice  of  two,  fairer  than  the  rest,  one  of  which  was  the 
prince's  palace,  and  the  other  the  temple.  Each  of  them  was 
forty  feet  square,  and  the  walls  ten  feet  high  and  two  feet 
thick,  the  roof  in  the  form  of  a  cupola,  and  covered  with  a  mat 
of  divers  colors.  *  *  *  As  to  their  religion,  the  prince  told 
me  that  they  worship  the  sun  ;  that  they  had  their  temples, 
their  altars,  and  their  priests.  That  in  their  temple  there  was 
a  fire  which  burned  perpetually,  as  the  proper  emblem  of  the 
sun.  That  at  the  decrease  of  the  moon,  they  carried  a  great 
dish  of  their  greatest  dainties  to  the  door  of  the  temple,  as  an 
oblatory  sacrifice  ;  which  the  priests  offered  to  their  god.  and 
then  carried  it  home  and  feasted  themselves  therewith.  *  * 
The  next  day  I  had  the  curiosity  to  see  their  temple,  and 
the  old  gentleman  led  me  thither.  The  structure  of  it  was 
exactly  the  same  with  that  of  the  prince's  house  As  to  the 
outside,  it  is  encompassed  with  a  great  high  wall,  the  space  betwixt 
that  and  the  temple  forming  a  kind  of  court  where  people  may 
icalk.  On  the  top  of  the  wall  were  several  pikes  to  be  seen, 
upon  which  were  stuck  the  heads  of  their  own  most  notorious 
criminals,  or  of  their  enemies.  On  the  top  of  the  frontispiece, 
there  is  a  great  knob  raised,  all  covered  round  with  hair,  and 
above  that  a  heap  of  scalps,  in  the  form  of  a  trophy. 
The  inside  of  the  temple  is  only  a  Nave,  painted  on  all  sides, 

11 


242         ABORIGINAL  SACRED  INCLOSURES. 

at  top  with  all  sorts  of  figures  ;  in  the  midst  of  it  is  a  hearth 
raised  in  the  form  of  an  altar,  upon  which  there  is  burning  con 
tinually  three  great  billets  of  wood,  standing  up  on  end ;  and 
two  priests,  dressed  in  white  vestments,  are  ever  looking  after 
it  to  make  up  the  fire  and  supply  it.  It  is  round  this  the 
people  come  to  say  their  prayers  with  strange  kind  of  hum- 
mings.  The  prayers  are  three  times  a  day :  at  sunrise,  at  noon, 
and  at  sunset.  They  made  me  take  notice  of  a  sort  of  closet 
cut  out  of  the  wall,  the  inside  of  which  was  very  fine.  I  could 
only  see  the  roof  of  it,  on  the  top  of  which  there  hung  a  couple 
of  spread  eagles,  which  looked  toward  the  sun.*  I  wanted  to 
go  in  ;  but  they  told  me  it  was  the  tabernacle  of  their  god, 
and  that  it  was  permitted  to  none  but  their  high  priest  to  go  in. 
And  I  was  told  it  was  the  repository  of  their  wealth  and 
treasures,  as  jewels,  gold  and  silver,  precious  stones,  and  some 
goods  that  came  out  from  Europe,  which  they  had  from  their 
neighbors. — (La  Salle,  Trans.  N.  Y.  Hist.  Soc.,  vol.  II.,  pp. 
269,  272.) 

THE    TEMPLES    OF    MEXICO,    CENTRAL    AMERICA,    AND    PERU. 

The  pyramidal  temples  of  the  Aztecs,  which  perhaps  better 
deserve  the  name  of  altars,  or  the  scriptural  name  of "  high 
places,"  were  always  surrounded  by  large  inclosures,  most 
usually  of  a  square  form.  The  great  temple  of  Mexico,  which 
is  described  by  all  the  early  authors  as  nearly  identical  in  form 
and  structure  with  all  the  principal  temples  of  Auahuac,  con 
sisted  first  of  an  immense  square  area,  "  surrounded  by  a  wall 
of  stone  and  lime,  eight  feet  thick,  with  battlements,  ornamented 
with  many  stone  figures  in  the  form  of  serpents."  The  extent 
of  this  inclosure,  which  occupied  the  centre  of  the  ancient  city, 
may  be  inferred  from  the  assertion  of  Cortez,  that  it  might  con 
tain  a  town  of  five  hundred  houses.  It  was  paved  with  pol- 

*  Adair  speaks  of  "  cherub imical  figures  in  the  Synhedria  "  of  the 
Muscogulges  or  Creeks.— (p.  30.) 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES.  243 

ished  stones,  so  smooth,  says  Bernal  Diaz,  that  "  the  horses  of 
the  Spaniards  could  not  move  over  them  without  slipping." 
The  four  walls  of  this  inclosure  corresponded  with  the  cardinal 
points,  and  gateways  opened  midway  upon  each  side,  from 
which,  according  to  Gomera,  led  off  broad  and  elevated'  avenues 
or  roads. — (Purchas,  vol.  III.,  p.  1 133.)  In  the  centre  of  this 
grand  area  arose  the  great  temple,  an  immense  pyramidal  struc 
ture  of  five  stages,  faced  with  stone,  three  hundred  feet  square 
at  the  base,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  in  height, 
truncated,  with  a  level  summit,  upon  which  were  situated  two 
towers,  the  shrines  of  the  divinities  to  which  it  was  consecrated. 
It  was  here  the  sacrifices  were  performed  and  the  eternal  fire 
maintained.  One  of  these  shrines  was  dedicated  to  Tezcatli- 
poca,  the  other  to  Huitzlipochtli ;  which  divinities  sustained 
the  same  relation  to  each  other,  in  the  Mexican  mythology,  as 
Brahma  and  Siva  in  that  of  the  Hindus.  Both  are  the  same 
god,  under  different  aspects,  and  with  the  God  of  the  Rain, 
Tlaloc,  constitute  a  Triad,  almost  identical  with  that  which 
runs  through  all  the  mythologies  of  the  East. 

Besides  this  great  pyramid,  according  to  Clavigero,  there 
are  forty  other  similar  structures,  of  smaller  size,  consecrated 
to  separate  divinities ;  one  was  called  Tezcacalli,  "  House  of 
the  Shining  Mirrors,"  which  was  covered  with  brilliant  mate 
rials,  and  sacred  to  Tezcatlipoca,  the  God  of  Light,  the  Soul 
of  the  World,  the  Vivifier,  the  Spiritual  Sun;  another  to 
Tlaloc,  the  God  of  Water,  the  Fertilizer ;  another  to  Quetzal- 
coatl,  said  to  have  been  the  God  of  the  Air,  whose  shrine  was 
distinguished  by  being  circular,  "  even,"  says  Gomera,  "  as  the 
winds  go  round  about  the  heavens,  for  that  consideration  made 
they  his  temple  round." 

Besides  these,  there  were  the  dwellings  of  the  priests 
(amounting,  according  to  Zarate,  to  5,000)  and  of  the  attend 
ants  in  the  temples,  and  seminaries  for  the  instruction  of 
youth ;  and,  if  we  are  to  credit  some  accounts,  houses  of  re 
ception  for  strangers  who  came  to  visit  the  temple  and  see  the 


244 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES. 


grandeur  of  the  court ;  ponds  and  fountains,  groves  and  gar 
dens,  in  which  flowers  and  "  sweet  smelling  herbs "  were  cul 
tivated  for  use  in  certain  sacred  rites,  and  for  the  decoration 
of  the  altars.  "  And  all  this,"  says  Solis,  "  without  retracting 
so  much  from  that  vast  square  but  that  eight  or  ten  thousand 
persons  had  sufficient  room  to  dance  in,  upon  their  solemn 
festivals."  The  area  of  this  temple  was  consecrated  ground  ; 
and  it  is  related  of  Montezuma,  that  he  only  ventured  to 
introduce  Cortez  within  its  sacred  limits,  after  having  con 
sulted  with  and  received  the  permission  of  the  priests,  and 
then  only  on  the  condition,  in  the  words  of  Solis,  that  the 
conquerors  "should  behave  themselves  with  respect."  The 
Spaniards  having  exhibited,  in  the  estimation  of  Montezuma,  a 
want  of  due  reverence  and  ceremony,  he  hastily  withdrew  them 
from  the  temple,  while  he  himself  remained  to  ask  the  pardon 
of  his  gods  for  having  permitted  the  impious  intrusion. 

There  is  a  general  concurrence  in  the  accounts  of  this  great 
temple  given  by  the  early  authorities,  among  whom  are  Cortez, 
Diaz,  and  others,  who  witnessed  what  they  described.  They 
all  unite  in  presenting  it  as  a  type  of  the  multitude  of  similar 
structures  which  existed  in  Anahuac.  Their  glowing  descrip 
tions,  making  due  allowance  for  the  circumstances  under  which 
they  wrote,  are  sustained  by  the  imposing  ruins  of  Cholula. 
Papantla,  Mitla,  Xoxachalco,  Misantla,  Quemada,  and  the 
thousand  other  monuments  which  are  yet  unrecorded  by  the 
antiquary,  and  which  invest  every  sierra  and  valley  of  Mexico 
with  an  interest  hardly  less  absorbing  than  that  which  lingers 
around  the  banks  of  the  Nile. 

From  the  number  of  these  religious  structures,  we  gather 
some  idea  of  the  predominance  of  Mexican  superstitions. 
Solis  speaks  of  eight  temples  in  the  city  of  Mexico,  of  nearly 
equal  grandeur  with  that  above  described,  and  estimates  those 
of  smaller  size  to  amount  to  two  thousand  in  number,  "  dedi 
cated  to  as  many  idols  of  different  names,  forms,  and  at 
tributes."  Torquemada  estimates  the  number  of  temples  in 


ABORIGINAL  SACRED  INCLOSURES.          245 

the  Mexican  empire  at  forty  thousand,  and  Clavigero  places 
the  number  far  higher.  "  The  architecture,"  he  adds,  "  of  the 
great  temples  was  for  the  most  part  the  same  with  that  of  the 
great  temple  of  Mexico ;  but  there  were  many  likewise  of  a 
different  structure,  composed  of  a  single  body  in  the  form  of  a 
pyramid,  with  a  staircase,  etc."  Gomera  says,  "  they  were 
almost  all  of  the  same  form :  so  that  what  we  shall  say  of  the 
principal  temple,  will  suffice  to  explain  all  the  others." 
Cortez,  in  a  letter  to  Charles  V.,  dated  October  30,  1520, 
states  that  he  counted  four  hundred  of  these  pyramidal  tem 
ples  at  Cholula. 

From  all  sources  we  gather  that  the  principal  temples,  or 
rather  sacred  places  of  Mexico,  consisted  of  large  square  areas, 
surrounded  by  walls,  with  passages  midway  at  their  sides,  from 
which  sometimes  led  off  avenues  or  roads,  and  that  within 
these  inclosures  were  pyramidal  structures  of  various  sizes, 
dedicated  to  different  divinities,  as  also  the  residences  of  the 
priests,  with  groves,  walks,  etc. 

Proceeding  to  Central  America,  we  still  find,  so  far  as  we 
are  informed  concerning  the  remains  of  these  countries,  the 
sacred  inclosure  and  the  pyramidal  temple.  The  inclosure 
surrounding  the  sacred  edifices  of  Tuloom,  already  described 
in  another  connection  (page  162),  was  most  probably  the  conse 
crated  ground  of  the  ancient  inhabitants.  Its  rectangular 
form  and  the  position  of  its  gateways  go  far  to  connect  it  with 
the  corresponding  structures  of  Mexico  and  the  United  States. 
Grijalva,  the  first  discoverer  of  Yucatan,  alluding  perhaps  to 
these  very  structures  of  Tuloom,  "  saw  several  places  of  wor 
ship  and  temples,  wide  at  the  bottom  and  hollow  at  the  top, 
stately  stone  buildings,  at  the  foot  of  which  was  an  inclosure 
of  lime  and  stone."  Del  Rio  assures  us  that  the  principal 
structures,  the  temples  of  Palenque,  were  placed  in  "  the  centre 
of  a  rectangular  area,  three  hundred  yards  in  breadth,  and 
four  hundred  and  fifty  in  length."  Assuming  the  word 
"  yard  "  to  be  a  translation  of  the  Spanish  vara,  which  is  about 


246 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES. 


thirty-three  inches  in  length,  we  have  the  dimensions  of  this 
area,  825  by  1240  feet.  Herrara  relates,  concerning  the  build 
ing  of  the  town  of  Mayapan,  by  the  ancient  inhabitants  of 
Yucatan : 

"  They  pitched  upon  a  spot,  eight  leagues  from  the  place 
where  Merida  now  stands,  and  fifteen  from  the  sea,  where  they 
made  an  inclosure  of  about  half  a  quarter  of  a  league  [on 
each  side?],  being  a  wall  of  dry  stone  with  only  two  gates. 
They  built  temples,  calling  the  greatest  of  them  Cuculcan,  and 
near  to  the  inclosure  the  houses  of  the  prime  men.  *  *  It 
was  afterward  ordered  that,  since  the  inclosure  was  only  for 
the  temples,  the  houses  of  the  people  should  be  built  round 
about." — (Herrara,  vol.  IV.,  p.  162.) 

The  accounts  which  we  possess  of  the  ancient  religious 
structures  of  Peru,  although  glowing  with  admiration  of  their 
splendor  and  riches,  are  yet  extremely  vague  as  respects  their 
plan  of  construction.  Enough,  however,  is  easily  gathered  to 
assure  us  that  they  consisted  of  large  consecrated  courts  or 
areas,  like  those  of  Mexico,  in  which  the  temples  proper  were 
situated,  together  with  fountains,  gardens,  and  the  residences 
of  the  priests. 

The  great  Temple  of  the  Sun  at  Cuzco,  in  the  description 
of  which  the  early  Spaniards  have  expended  every  superla 
tive  of  their  language,  consisted  of  a  principal  building  and 
several  chapels  and  inferior  edifices,  covering  a  large  extent  of 
ground,  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  and  completely  encompassed 
by  a  circular  wall,  which,  with  the  edifices,  was  constructed  of 
stone.  Aqueducts  opened  within  this  sacred  inclosure ;  and 
within  it  were  gardens,  and  walks  among  shrubs  and  flowers 
of  gold  and  silver,  made  in  imitation  of  the  productions  of 
nature.  It  was  attended  by  four  thousand  priests.  "  The 
ground,"  says  La  Vega,  "  for  two  hundred  paces  around  the 
temple,  was  considered  holy,  and  no  one  was  allowed  to  pass 
within  this  boundary  but  with  naked  feet."  Nor  even  under 
these  restrictions  were  any  permitted  to  enter,  except  of  the 


r 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES. 


247 


blood  of  the  Incas,  in  whom  were  centred  the  priestly  and 
civil  functions  of  the  government. 

Besides  the  great  Temple  of  the  Sun,  there  was  a  large 
number  of  inferior  temples  in  Cuzco,  estimated  by  Herrara  at 
three  hundred.  Numerous  other  temples  are  scattered  over 
the  empire,  all  of  which  seem  to  have  corresponded  very  nearly 
in  structure  with  that  already  described.  The  most  celebrated 
temple  in  Peru,  next  to  that  of  Cuzco,  was  situated  on  an 
island  in  Lake  Titicaca,  where  it  was  believed  Manco  Capac 
first  made  his  appearance  on  earth.  The  whole  surface  of  the 
island  was  considered  sacred.  The  Temple  of  Pachacamac  is 
described  as  being  inclosed  by  walls,  and  to  have  "more 
resembled  a  fortress  than  a  temple."  According  to  Roman, 
"the  temples  of  Peru  were  built  upon  high  grounds  or  the 
tops  of  hills,  and  were  surrounded  by  four  circular  embank 
ments  of  earth,  one  within  the  other.  The  temple  stood  in 
the  centre  of  the  inclosed  area,  and  was  quadrangular  in 
form." 

A  structure,  corresponding  very  nearly  with  this  description, 
is  noticed  by  Humboldt,  who  denominates  it,  in  accordance 
with  local  traditions,  Ingapilca,  "  House  of  the  Incas,"  and 
supposes  it  to  have  been  a  sort  of  fortified  lodging-place  of  the 
Incas,  in  their  journeys  from  one  part  of  the  empire  to  the 
other.  It  is  situated  at  Cannar,  and  occupies  the  summit  of  a 
hill.  The  "  citadel "  is  a  very  regular  oval,  the  greatest  axis 
of  which  is  125  feet,  and  consists  of  a  wall,  built  of  large 
blocks  of  stone,  rising  to  the  height  of  sixteen  feet.  Within 
this  oval  is  a  square  edifice,  containing  but  two  rooms,  which 
resembles  the  ordinary  stone  dwellings  of  the  present  day. 
Surrounding  these  is  a  much  larger  circular  inclosure,  which, 
from  the  description  and  plate,  we  infer  is  not  far  from  five 
hundred  feet  in  diameter.  This  series  of  works  possesses  few 
military  features,  and  it  seems  most  likely  that  it  was  a  temple 
of  the  Sun.  This  opinion  is  confirmed  by  the  fact  that,  at  the 
base  of  the  hill  of  Cannar  was  formerly  a  famous  shrine  of 


248          ABORIGINAL  SACRED  INCLOSURES. 

the  Sun.  consisting  of  the  universal  symbol  of  that  luminary 
formed  by  nature  upon  the  face  of  a  great  rock.  Humboldt 
himself  admits  an  apparent  dependence  between  this  shrine 
and  the  structures  above  described. — (HumboldC s  Res.,  vol., 
pp.  242,  248:  fol.  plates,  No.  17.)  Ulloa  describes  an  ancient 
Peruvian  temple  situated  on  a  hill  near  the  town  of  Cayambe, 
perfectly  circular  in  form,  and  open  at  the  top.  It  was  built 
of  unburnt  bricks,  cemented  together  with  clay. — (  Ulloa,  vol. 
I.,  p.  486.) 

TEMPLES    OP    POLYNESIAN    ISLANDERS,    HINDCJS,    ETC. 

Inclosures  ruder  in  construction,  yet  nevertheless  analogous 
in  form  and  identical  in  purpose  with  those  here  described, 
were  found  among  the  Polynesian  Islanders.  The  area  of 
their  temples  was  frequently  a  square  or  parallelogram,  pro 
tected  by  stone  walls,  within  which  were  pyramidal  structures, 
sometimes  of  great  size.  One  of  these,  within  the  great  in- 
closure  of  Atehuru,  was  two  hundred  and  seventy  feet  long,  by 
ninety-four  feet  broad,  and  fifty  feet  high ;  flat  on  the  summit, 
which  was  reached  by  a  flight  of  steps,  much  after  the  manner 
of  the  Mexican  Teocalli.  Within  the  sacred  area,  and  at  the 
base  of  these  pyramidal  structures,  the  idols  were  placed  and 
their  altars  erected.  Here  also  were  the  dwellings  of  the 
priests  and  of  the  keepers  of  the  idols.  The  trees  and  other 
objects  within  the  walls  were  sacred. — (Ellis's  Polynesian 
Researches,  vol.  I.,  p.  340.)  In  some  instances,  instead  of  an 
unbroken  wall,  the  sacred  area  was  indicated  by  a  series  of 
pyramidal  heaps  of  stones,  placed  at  intervals,  so  as  to  con 
stitute  the  leading  points  of  a  square,  within  which  was  placed 
the  temple  proper.  The  ruins  of  a  temple  of  this  kind,  called 
Kaili,  still  exist  in  the  island  of  Hawaii. — ( U.  S.  Exploring 
Exped.,  vol.  IV.,  p.  100.) 

When  we  extend  our  inquiries  to  the  eastern  shores  of  the 
old  continent,  we  find  in  India  the  almost  exact  counterparts 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES.  249 

of  the  religious  structures  of  Central  America :  analogies  fur 
nishing  the  strongest  support  of  the  hypothesis  which  places 
the  origin  of  American  semi-civilization  in  southern  Asia.  A 
close  and  critical  comparison  of  these  monuments,  in  con 
nection  with  the  systems  of  religion  to  which  they  were 
respectively  dedicated,  and  the  principles  which  governed  their 
erection,  may  lead  to  most  interesting  and  important  results. 

In  another  connection,  some  of  the  more  obvious  analogies 
will  be  pointed  out ;  with  no  view,  however,  of  establishing 
dependencies,  but  for  the  purpose  of  illustration  and  elucida 
tion.  It  is  sufficient  for  our  present  objects  to  remark,  that 
the  temples  of  India  and  of  the  islands  of  the  Indian  seas, 
both  of  modern  and  ancient  date,  are  constructed  and  inclosed 
in  like  manner  with  those  already  described.  The  consecrated 
area  is  sometimes  of  vast  extent,  equaling  if  not  exceeding  in 
this  respect  the  largest  of  those  which  existed  in  Mexico. 
These  inclosures  are  square,  and  usually  have  their  entrances 
corresponding  to  the  cardinal  points.  "  The  general  style  of 
these  buildings,"  says  Bishop  Heber,  "  is  a  large  square  court, 
sometimes  merely  surrounded  by  a  low  brick  wall,  with  balus 
trades,  indented  at  the  top,  with  two  or  sometimes  four  towers 
at  the  angles.  In  the  centre  of  the  principal  front  is,  for  the 
most  part,  an  entrance,  often  very  handsome.  In  the  middle 
of  the  quadrangle,  or  in  the  middle  of  one  of  its  sides  opposite 
the  main  entrance,  is  a  pyramid,  which  is  the  temple  of  the 
principal  deity.  The  structure  is  sometimes  octagonal,  but 
mostly  square." — (Heber's  Travels,  vol.  I.,  Chap.  3.)  "  Some 
times  a  number  of  temples  are  built  within  this  sacred  area. 
One  at  Chanchra,  in  Jesson,  has  twenty-one  temples,  and  one 
thousand  acres  of  ground." — ( Ward,  vol.  III.,  p.  230.)  The 
Pagoda  of  Seringham  is  one  of  the  most  magnificent  in  India. 
It  stands  on  an  island  in  the  river  Careri,  in  the  dominions 
of  the  Rajah  of  Tanjore.  Seven  square  inclosures,  formed  by 
walls  twenty-five  feet  high,  four  feet  thick,  and  three  hundred 
and  fifty  feet  distant  from  each  other,  inclose  a  court  in  the 
11* 


250 


ABORIGINAL  SACRED  INCLOSURES. 


centre,  in  which  are  sacred  pyramidal  structures,  the  abodes 
of  the  gods  of  the  Hindu  pantheon,  and  among  them  the 
sanctuary  of  the  Supreme  Vishnu.  These  various  deities  are 
believed  really  to  animate  their  respective  pyramids  or  shrines. 
Four  large  gates,  one  in  the  middle  of  each  side,  each  sur 
mounted  by  a  tower,  are  the  entrances  to  the  several  courts. 
The  outer  wall  is  four  miles  in  circumference.  The  number 
of  the  inclosures  has  a  symbolical  signification,  and  refers  to 
the  several  regions  into  which  the  Universe,  the  abode  of  the 
gods,  was  supposed  to  be  divided,  according  to  the  theory  of 
the  age  in  which  the  structure  was  built. — (Dudley's  Naology, 
p.  104;  Caiman's  Mythology  of  the  Hindus,  p.  157;  Maurices 
Indian  Antiquities,  vol.  III.,  pp.  13,  50.)  The  great  temple 
of  Jaggenath,  at  Orissa,  the  general  resort  of  all  Hindu  sects, 
is  regarded  as  possessing  such  exceeding  sanctity,  that  the 
earth  for  twenty  miles  round  is  considered  holy.  The  most 
sacred,  spot  is  an  inclosed  area  about  six  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  square,  which  contains  the  temples  of  the  idol  and  his 
sister,  surrounded  by  fifty  lesser  temples,  all  of  pyramidal 
form. — (Caiman's  Myth,  of  the  Hindus,  p.  52.) 

In  the  Island  of  Java  are  the  remains  of  many  ancient  tem 
ples,  of  similar  character  and  construction.  A  large  number 
of  these,  designated  as  the  ruins  of  Prambanai,  exist  in  the 
district  of  Pajang.  One  of  the  most  perfect  of  the  groups  oc 
curring  here  is  termed  by  the  natives  "  the  Thousand  Temples." 
The  group  occupies  a  rectangular  area  six  hundred  feet  long 
and  five  hundred  and  fifty  feet  broad,  and  consists  of  four  rows 
of  small  pyramidal  structures,  inclosing  a  court,  in  which  is 
placed  a  large  pyramidal  edifice.  The  whole  is  surrounded  by 
a  wall,  having  entrances  midway  on  each  side.  Some  of  these 
groups  are  disposed  in  squares  of  greater  or  less  dimensions, 
but  all  have  a  common  character. — ( Crawford's  Indian  Archi 
pelago,  vol..  II.,  p.  196 ;  Asiatic  Researches,  Calcutta,  vol. 
XIII.)  There  are  also  single  temples  of  like  form,  occasionally 
of  great  size,  and  generally  surrounded  by  a  series  of  inclosures. 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES.  251 

The  religious  edifices  and  pyramidal  shrines  of  the  Japanese 
are  described  by  Ksempfer  as  "  sweetly  seated  "  in  the  midst  of 
large  square  inclosures,  approached  by  spacious  avenues,  and 
embracing  within  their  walls  springs,  groves,  and  pleasant  walks. 
"  The  empire,"  observes  our  authority,  "  is  full  of  these  temples, 
and  their  priests  are  without  number.  Only  in  and  about 
Miaco,  they  count  nearly  4,000  temples  and  about  37,000 
priests." — (Kcempfer's  Japan,  vol.  II.,  p.  416.) 

These  examples  might  be  greatly  multiplied,  so  as  to  extend 
the  chain  of  analogies  quite  around  the  globe.  Passing,  how 
ever,  over  the  intermediate  space,  we  come  at  once  to  the  Brit 
ish  Islands. 


PRIMITIVE    TEMPLES    OF    THE    BRITISH   ISLANDS. 

The  British  Islands,  and  the  portion  of  the  continent  adja 
cent  to  them,  abound  in  ancient  monuments,  closely  allied  to 
those  under  consideration.  They  have  been  very  accurately  in 
vestigated  and  described  by  Camden,  Borlase.  Douglas,  Hoare, 
Cunnington,  Higgins,  Deane,  and  numerous  others  ;  and  the 
world  is  familiar  with  their  character.  The  researches  of  these 
investigators  have  directed  upon  them  all  the  lights  of  erudi 
tion.  Availing  ourselves  at  once  of  the  results  of  their  labors, 
we  apply  them  to  the  elucidation  of  the  mysterious  monuments 
of  our  own  country. 

The  analogies  which  exist  between  one  class  of  ancient  Brit 
ish  remains  and  a  corresponding  class  of  American  structures, 
have  already  been  briefly  pointed  out.  There  is,  however, 
another  large  division,  more  numerous  and  more  interesting 
than  these,  of  widely  different  form  and  manifestly  different  de 
sign.  These  consist,  for  the  most  part,  of  circular  structures,  of 
greater  or  less  dimensions,  composed  of  earth  or  of  upright 
stones  placed  at  short  distances  apart.  These  circles  are  some 
times  of  great  size,  embracing  many  acres  of  ground ;  but  most 
are  of  moderate  dimensions,  corresponding  in  this  as  generally 


252  ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES. 

in  other  respects  with  those  of  this  country.  They  are  regarded 
by  all  well-informed  British  antiquaries  as  religious  in  their 
origin,  and  connected  with  the  ancient  Druidical  system.  This 
conclusion  is  not  entirely  speculative,  but  rests  in  a  great  degree 
upon  traditional  and  historical  facts.  Borlase  observes,  "  The 
grandeur  of  design,  the  distance  of  the  materials,  the  tediousness 
with  which  all  such  massive  works  are  erected,  all  show  that  they 
were  the  fruits  of  peace  and  religion."  "  That  they  were  erected," 
says  Hoare,  "  for  the  double  purpose  of  civil  and  religious  assem 
blies,  may  be  admitted  without  controversy.  They  were  public 
edifices,  constructed  according  to  the  rude  fashion  of  the  times, 
and  at  a  period  when  the  Deity  was  worshipped  in  the  most 
simple  and  primitive  manner,  under  the  open  canopy  of  heaven." 
— (Ancient  Wiltshire,  vol.  II.,  p.  122.)  Caesar,  writing  of  the 
Druids,  is  understood  to  allude  to  their  sacred  structures  in 
the  following  terms :  "  Druides,  certo  anni  tempore,  considunt  in 
LOCO  CONSECRATO.  Hue  omnes  undique  qui  conlroversias  habent 
conveniunt,  eorumque  judiciis  decretisque  parent}"1 — (Cccsar,  de 
Bello  Gallico,  Lib.  VI.)  "  Once  a  year  the  Druids  assemble  at 
a  consecrated  place.  Hither  such  as  have  suits  depending  flock 
from  all  parts,  and  submit  implicitly  to  their  decrees."  It  need 
not  be  added,  that  the  Druids  were  priests  and  judges,  the  ex 
pounders  of  religion  and  the  administrators  of  justice ;  they 
were  entrusted  with  the  education  of  youth,  and  taught  the 
motions  of  the  stars,  the  magnitude  of  the  earth,  the  nature  of 
things,  and  the  dignity  and  power  of  the  gods.  They  officiated 
at  sacrifices  and  divinations ;  they  decided  controversies,  pun 
ished  the  guilty,  and  rewarded  the  virtuous.  Their  power  was 
superior  to  that  of  the  nobles,  over  whom  they  wielded  the  ter 
rors  of  excommunication  from  a  participation  in  the  imperative 
rites  of  their  religion.  They  centred  in  themselves  the  occult 
learning  of  the  day,  which  seems  to  have  been  closely  allied  to 
that  of  Phoenicia,  if  not,  indeed,  mainly  derived  from  the  East. 
"  The  sacred  places  of  the  Druids  were  inclosed  sometimes 
with  a  fence  of  palisades,  and  sometimes  with  a  mound  of  earth, 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES.  253 

or  with  stones,  to  keep  off  the  profane,  and  prevent  all  irreve 
rent  intrusion  upon  their  mysteries.*  Tacitus  relates  that  the 
early  Germans  considered  their  groves  and  woods  as  sacred : 
these  spots  were  consecrated  to  pious  uses,  and  the  holy  recess 
took  the  name  of  the  divinity  who  filled  the  place,  and  whose 
sanctuary  was  never  permitted  to  be  seen  but  with  reverence 
and  awe.  Agreeable  to  this  was  the  early  practice  of  the 
Britons,  who,  according  to  the  same  authority,  used  similar 
customs  with  the  Germans." — ( Germania,  C.  ix.  and  C.  xl.)  In 
the  form  of  their  temples,  the  Druids,  for  the  most  part, 
adopted  the  circle ;  and  the  generally  received  opinion  is,  that 
all  circular  monuments  were  originally  intended  for  devotional 
purposes. 

There  are  some  earth-works  in  the  British  Islands,  which 
were  clearly  not  defensive,  but  yet  are  rectangular.  To  these, 
authors  have  hesitated  in  ascribing  a  date.  One  of  the  most 
singular  of  these,  which  corresponds  very  nearly  with  that  dis 
covered  near  Tarlton,  Pickaway  county,  Ohio  (Ancient  Monu 
ments  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  Plate  XXXVI.,  No.  1),  occurs 


FIG.  47. 


*  Salopia  Antiqua,  p.  10.  Hermoldus.  in  his  Chronicon  de  Rebus 
Salivae,  says  that  the  Sclavonians  prevented  all  access  to  their  groves 
and  fountains,  which  they  considered  would  become  desecrated  by  the 
entrance  of  Christians.  They  had  their  sacred  oaks,  which  they  sur 
rounded  by  a  fence  of  wicker-work.  The  tabooed  palms  and  other  trees 
of  the  Marquesas  and  South  Sea  Islanders  are  protected  from  profane 
contact  in  a  like  manner. 


254  ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES. 

upon  Banwell  Hill,  county  of  Wilts,  England.  The  engraving  on 
the  preceding  page  (Fig.  47)  is  reduced  from  the  plan  given  by 
Sir  R.  C.  Hoare,  who  notices  it  briefly  as  follows :  "  Before 
quitting  this  interesting  eminence,  I  must  not  omit  to  take 
notice  of  a  very  singular  little  earth-work,  situated  toward  the 
village  of  Banwell.  Its  form  proclaims  it  to  be  Roman ;  but  I 
cannot  conceive  to  what  use  it  was  destined.  The  embankment 
inclosing  the  cross  is  two  hundred  and  thirty  yards  in  extent,  and 
incloses  nearly  three-quarters  of  an  acre." — (Ancient  Wiltshire, 
vol.  II. ;  Roman  Era,  p.  43.)  There  is  certainly  a  most  strik 
ing  coincidence ;  yet  it  is  one  which  it  would  be  unsafe  to  re 
gard  as  any  other  than  accidental. 

It  may  not  be  wholly  inappropriate  to  mention  that  some  of 
the  most  ancient  temples  of  India  are  built  in  the  form  of  a 
cross ;  such  is  the  shape  of  the  great  temple  at  Benares,  and 
that  at  Mathura.  At  the  intersection  of  the  four  arms  rises  a 
lofty  dome.  Such  also  is  the  shape  of  the  subterranean  temple 
of  New  Grange,  in  Ireland. — (Tavernicr,  vol.  III.,  pp.  30,  47; 
Faber's  Pag.  Idol.,  vol.  III.,  p.  287  ;  Higgles  Celtic  Druids, 
p.  40.) 

The  circular  form  is  certainly  best  adapted  for  the  reception 
of  the  devotees  desiring  to  see  and  hear,  or  to  participate  in 
parts  of  the  sacrificial  rites  practised  within  them.  But  it  is 
claimed,  and  upon  an  array  of  evidence  which  will  admit  of  no 
dispute,  that  the  form  of  the  primitive  temple  was,  with  great 
uniformity,  that  of  the  symbol  of  the  religion  to  which  it  wad 
consecrated,  or  of  the  god  to  whose  worship  it  was  dedicated. 

The  circle  is  the  uniform  symbol  of  the  sun,  alike  among  the 
most  savage  as  the  most  enlightened  nations ;  and  the  fact  that 
most  of  the  ancient  religious  structures  of  the  British  Islands 
are  of  that  form,  would  seem  to  imply  that  the  god  of  Celtic 
adoration  was  symbolized  as  the  Sun,  and  that  the  ancient  Celtic 
religion  was  a  modification  of  what  is  usually  termed  sun  or  fire 
worship.  This  implication  is  sustained  by  abundant  evidence, 
into  which  it  is  impossible,  as  it  would  be  out  of  place,  to  enter 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES.  255 

here.  We  have  every  reason  for  believing  that  the  objects  of 
the  Druidical  worship  were  identical  with  those  of  the  followers 
of  Baal  (the  Sun).*  Like  them,  the  Druids  were  addicted  to 
the  study  of  the  heavens,  and  in  the  same  way  they  offered  up 
sacrifices  to  Baal,  Bel,  Belus,  Belinus,  Moloch,  Apollo,  or  the 
Sun.  The  connection  of  Druidism  with  the  name  of  Baal,  is  well 
known  in  the  lines  of  Ausonius — himself  a  Druid — who  writes : 

"  Tu  Baiocassis,  stirpe  Druidum  satus, 

Si  fama  non  fallit  fidera, 
Belini  sacratum  duels  e  templo  genus." 

Caesar  says  the  Gauls  worshipped  Apollo :  the  Gauls  were 
followers  of  the  Druidic  rites  according  to  the  same  authority. 

SYMBOLISM   OF   TEMPLES. 

The  rationale  of  symbolism,  as  connected  with  temples,  next 
claims  our  attention.  Not  only  was  the  doctrine  of  occasional 
presence  of  universal  acceptance  among  the  followers  of  every 
early  religious  system,  but  they  believed  that  the  gods  made 
temples  and  sacred  structures  their  places  of  constant  abode. 
Their  presence,  in  some  instances,  was  supposed  actually  to 
animate  their  shrines,  and  to  consecrate  the  earth  around  them. 
The  Jews  were  assured  that  Jehovah  dwelt  between  the  emble 
matic  cherubim.  In  the  hope  of  rendering  his  homage  in  the 

*  Salopia  Antiqua,  p.  7.  The  evidence  upon  this  point,  as  remarked 
in  the  text,  is  alike  abundant  and  conclusive.  The  Phoenicians,  who 
undoubtedly  penetrated  into  the  British  Islands  at  a  very  early  day,  in 
troduced  many  of  their  own  habits  and  superstitions.  They  were  the 
carriers  of  customs  and  opinions,  as  of  wares,  and  dispersed  the  seeds 
both  of  African  and  Asiatic  idolatry  in  Europe.  This  conclusion  is  sus 
tained  not  only  by  the  striking  resemblance  between  many  of  the  reli 
gious  rites  of  the  ancient  Celts  and  those  of  Assyria  and  Egypt,  but  by 
etymological  evidences  of  a  most  positive  character.— (  Thackeray's  An 
cient  Britain,  vol.  I.,  pp.  10,  14:  also,  Introduction  to  Ancient  Wiltshire, 
and  Higgins's  Celtic  Druids,  ubi  supra.) 


250         ABORIGINAL  SACRED  INCLOSURES. 

actual  presence  of  his  God,  the  Mohammedan  pilgrim  makes 
his  weary  journey  to  Mecca,  and  the  Hindu  devotee  seeks,  from 
the  remotest  provinces,  the  shrine  of  Jaggenath.  The  same 
idea  of  a  living  presence  is  manifested  in  the  superstition  of 
the  savage,  who  regards  every  remarkable  tree,  rock,  cave, 
spring,  or  stream,  as  the  evidence  or  actual  impersonation  of  a 
divinity,  and  renders  his  homage  in  accordance  with  his  belief. 
The  presence  of  the  gods  was  formerly  supposed  to  be  favor 
able,  and  powerfully  conducive,  if  not  indispensably  necessary, 
to  the  prosperity  of  cities  and  nations  ;  and  as  such  was  ever 
desired  and  ever  a  cause  of  joy  and  exultation.  The  poet 
Horace  addresses  the  goddess  Venus  in  terms  significant  of  the 
benefits  resulting  from  her  presence  : 

"  0  Goddess  in  blest  Cyprus  dwelling, 
And  Memphis  wanting  of  Sithonian  snow  !" 

So,  too,  Homer  alludes  to  the  celestial  mountain  of  Greece : 

"  Olympus  famed,  the  safe  abode  of  gods, 
By  winds  is  never  vexed,  nor  drenched  with  rain. 
Snow  falls  not ;  but  the  cloudless  arch  serene 
Widely  expands ;  with  brightness  ever  clear." 

Influenced  by  opinions  such  as  these,  we  can  readily  under 
stand  how  the  temple  might  take  the  symbolical  form  of  the  god 
to  whose  worship  it  was  dedicated ;  thereby  being  made  more 
acceptable  as  his  abode,  at  the  same  time  that  its  form  pro 
claimed  his  presence.  Sallust,  in  his  treatise  on  the  Gods  and 
the  World,  illustrates  this  ancient  doctrine  in  the  following 
words  :  "  As  the  providence  of  the  gods  is  everywhere  extended, 
a  certain  habitude  or  fitness  is  all  that  is  necessary  in  order  to 
receive  their  beneficent  communications.  But  all  habitude  is 
produced  through  imitation  and  similitude  ;  and  hence  temples 
imitate  the  heavens,  but  altars  the  earth  ;  statues  resemble  life, 
and  on  this  account  are  similar  to  animals,  etc."* 

*  The  Pantheon  at  Rome  was  dedicated  to  all  the  gods ;  who,  instead 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES.  257 

The  earth,  remarks  an  ingenious  writer,  being  regarded  as 
God  by  a  large  portion  of  the  heathen  world,  any  structure 
bearing  that  form  might  justly  be  considered  as  a  symbol  of 
the  Deity,  indicative  of  his  power  and  his  presence.  The  im 
port  of  the  symbol  caused  the  conviction  and  assurance  that 
all  sacred  structures  ought,  of  necessity,  to  be  constructed  in  its 
form. — (Dudley  on  Symbolism,  p.  43.) 

This  conviction  seems  to  have  prevailed  among  the  Hebrews : 
the  "  Ark  of  the  Covenant,"  in  which  were  deposited  the  tables 
of  the  law,  was  essentially  symbolical  in  its  form.  The  form 
of  the  Tabernacle  in  the  wilderness,  and  of  the  great  temple 
on  Mount  Z ion,  we  may  infer,  was  regarded  as  a  matter  of 
importance,  from  the  specific  directions  given  for  their  con 
struction.  And  the  primitive  Christians,  we  are  assured,  were 
in  a  like  manner  influenced  in  the  form  of  their  sacred  edi 
fices.* 

Vesta,  in  the  later  mythologies,  was  the  igneous  element 
personified ;  her  globular  temple  on  the  banks  of  the  Tiber 
represented,  we  are  told,  the  Orb  of  the  Earth,  cherished  and 


of  rude  shrines  consecrated  to  each,  as  in  the  great  temple  of  Mexico, 
had  their  statues  placed  within  the  vast  rotunda.  The  great  concave 
dome,  we  are  expressly  told  by  Pliny,  was  designed  to  represent  the 
vault  of  heaven ;  "  quod  forma  ejus  convexa  fastigiatam  call  similitudi- 
nem  ostenderet."  Yet  it  seems  to  have  been  eminently  a  temple  of  the 
solar  Apollo,  whose  colossal  image  was  placed  immediately  in  front  of 
the  entrance,  the  first  and  most  imposing  object  which  met  the  eye  of 
the  spectator. — (See  Faber,  Pagan  Idolatry,  vol.  III.,  p.  284 ;  Maurice, 
Ind.  Antiq.vol.  III.,  p.  185.)  Mr.  Dudley,  who  claims  that  the  circle  and 
the  square  were  the  symbols  of  the  reciprocal  powers  of  nature,  assumes 
that  the  circular  Pantheon,  with  its  quadrangular  portico,  was  intended 
to  signify  the  union  of  the  two  principles  or  powers. — (Naology,  p.  390.) 
*  "  In  respect  to  the  form  and  fashion  of  their  churches,  it  was  for  the 
most  part  oblong,  to  keep  (say  some,  vide  Constit.  Apost.,  L.  ii.  C.  57) 
the  better  correspondence  with  the  fashion  of  a  ship:  the  common 
notion  or  metaphor  by  which  the  church  was  wont  to  be  represented." 
(Cave's  Prim.  Christianity,  p.  65.) 


258 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES. 


made  prolific  by  the  central  fire. — (Maurice,  Ind.  Antiq.,  vol. 
III.,  p.  130.)  The  reason  for  the  orbicular  or  oval  form  of  her 
temple  was  recognized  in  Ovid's  day.  He  writes : 

"  What  now  is  roofed  with  brass,  was  then  of  straw, 
And  the  slight  osier  formed  the  wattled  wall. 
This  spot,  that  now  the  fane  of  Vesta  bears, 
The  palace  was  of  Numa,  king  unshorn. 
'Tis  said  the  form  is  now,  as  erst  of  old ; 
And  the  true  reason  may  be  well  approved  : 
Vesta  and  Earth  are  one.    A  ceaseless  fire 
Burns  in  them  both,  and  both  alike  pervades. 
The  earth,  a  globe  supported  on  no  prop, 
Hangs,  heavy  weight,  in  all-subjected  air." 

Ovid,  Fast.,  Lib.  VI.,  261. 

Plutarch  alludes,  in  similar  terms,  to  the  symbolical  signifi 
cance  of  the  form  of  this  temple.  "  Numa  built  a  temple  of 
orbicular  form,  for  the  preservation  of  the  sacred  fire ;  intending 
by,  the  fashion  of  the  edifice  to  shadow  out,  not  so  much  the 
earth,  or  Vesta  considered  in  that  character,  as  the  whole  uni 
verse  ;  in  the  centre  of  which  the  Pythagoreans  placed  fire,  and 
which  they  called  Yesta  and  Unity."* 

*  Plutarch  de  Iside  et  Osiride.  M.  Ramee  has  well  expressed  this 
idea  in  his  "  Histoire  Generate  de  V Architecture"  from  which  we  translate 
the  following  passage : 

"Among  all  the  people  of  antiquity,  intimately  connected  with  the 
idea  of  God,  was  that  of  the  Earth  as  his  habitation,  and  Heaven  as  his 
eternal  home.  The  universe,  and  especially  the  visible  heavens,  was  for 
this  reason  considered  as  a  true  Temple  of  the  Divinity,  built  by  Himself, 
and  was  held  as  the  primitive  Temple,  to  be  taken  as  a  model,  as  the 
type  of  all  temples  to  be  raised  by  the  hand  of  man.  It  was,  therefore, 
considered  unworthy  of  God  and  contrary  to  the  idea  held  of  Him,  to 
erect  sanctuaries  to  the  Supreme  Being  on  the  same  plan  as  the  houses 
which  man  built  for  himself  as  a  shelter  and  protection  against  the 
changes  of  the  seasons.  A  habitation  for  God,  it  was  thought,  should 
resemble  the  Universe ;  and  for  that  reason  it  would  bear  a  divine  cha 
racter,  and  the  Divinity  would  therein  be,  as  it  were,  at  home.  Hence 
the  construction  of  temples  was  regarded,  in  all  antiquity,  as  a  religious 
or  hieratic  ,art,  the  inventors  and  masters  of  which,  at  first,  were  the 
gods  themselves." 


ABORIGINAL  SACRED  INCLOSURES.          259 

The  notions  already  alluded  to  as  influencing  the  forms  of 
temples,  controlled  also  the  choice  of  their  position,  the  nature 
of  their  materials,  and,  when  they  were  advanced  from  their 
primitive  rudeness,  the  character  of  their  ornaments.  The 
crescent  crowns  the  minaret  of  the  Mohammedan;  the  sym 
bolic  trident  of  Siva,  the  dome  consecrated  to  his  worship ;  and 
the  cross,  in  like  manner,  designates  the  church  of  the  Chris 
tian.  The  significance  of  the  trident  is  not  less  obvious  to 
the  Hindu,  than  that  of  the  crescent  to  the  Turk,  or  the  sym 
bol  of  his  religion  to  the  Christian ;  yet  to  the  stranger  to 
each,  they  would  possess  no  higher  value  than  might  attach  to 
them  in  their  character  of  ornaments. 

Were  it  necessary  to  our  purpose,  the  illustrations  of  the 
various  points  here  indicated  might  be  greatly  extended. 
Enough  has,  however,  been  said  to  place  in  a  plausible  light 
the  fact  (which  probably  no  one  would  be  disposed  to  deny), 
that  the  form  of  the  primitive  temple  was,  to  an  eminent 
degree,  symbolical.  In  the  words  of  Deane,  "  The  figure  of 
the  temple,  in  almost  every  religion  with  which  we  are 
acquainted,  is  the  hierogram  of  its  god.  The  hierogram  of 
the  sun  was  always  a  circle  :  the  temples  of  the  sun  were  cir 
cular.  The  Arkites  adored  the  personified  ark  of  Noah :  their 
temples  were  built  in  the  form  of  a  ship.  The  Ophites  adored 
a  serpent  deity :  their  temples  assumed  the  form  of  a  serpent. 
And  to  come  home  to  our  own  times  and  feelings,  the  Chris 
tian  retains  a  remnant  of  the  same  idea  when  he  builds  his 
temples  in  the  form  of  a  cross ;  the  cross  being  at  once  the 
symbol  of  his  creed,  and  the  hierogram  of  his  God." — 
(Observations  on  Dracontia,  by  Rev.  J.  B.  Deane,  British 
Archaologia,  vol.  XXV.,  p.  191.) 

It  is  the  fact  that  the  religious  conceptions,  the  philosophy 
and  physical  speculations  of  the  ancients,  exerted  a  controlling 
influence  upon  the  construction  of  their  sacred  edifices,  that 
invests  those  monuments  with  interest,  not  only  as  works  of 
art,  but  as  illustrations  of  man's  primitive  beliefs, — his  notions 


2(50  ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES. 

of  cosmogony,  and  his  philosophy  of  the  earth  and  heavens. 
"  On  every  review,"  observes  an  eminent  author,  "  and  from 
every  region,  accumulated  proofs  arise,  how  much  more  exten 
sively  than  is  generally  supposed  the  designs  of  the  ancients 
in  architecture  were  affected  by  their  speculations  in  astrono 
my,  and  by  their  mythological  reveries." — (Maurice,  2nd. 
Antiq.,  vol.  III.,  p.  199.) 

Having  already  taken  this  brief  survey  of  the  character  of 
the  various  primitive  religious  structures  of  various  parts  of 
the  world,  and  having  indicated  the  principles  upon  which 
those  with  the  origin  of  which  we  are  acquainted,  sustaining 
the  closest  analogy  to  those  of  our  own  country,  were  con 
structed,  we  return  with  new  aids  to  the  investigation  of  the 
latter. 

As  has  already  been  several  times  observed,  the  aboriginal 
temples,  or  rather  sacred  inclosures,  of  the  Mississippi  valley 
are  nearly  all  of  regular  figures,  usually  circular  or  elliptical, 
sometimes  square  or  rectangular  ;  exhibiting  in  this  respect,  as 
also  in  their  manner  of  combination,  a  uniformity  which  could 
only  result  from  a  fixed  and  well-recognized  design.  Nothing 
can  be  more  obvious  than  that  they  were  built  in  accordance 
with  a  general  plan,  founded  upon  certain  definite  principles  ; 
and  it  is  impossible  to  resist  the  conviction  that  their  various 
forms  and  combinations  possessed  some  degree  of  significance, 
and  sustained  some  relation  to  the  worship  to  which  they  were 
dedicated.  "We  arrive  at  these  conclusions  from  a  simple  con 
templation  of  the  monuments  themselves,  unaided  by  the  sug 
gestions  of  analogy,  or  the  evidence  furnished  by  the  concurrent 
practice  of  all  early  nations.* 

When,  however,  we  find  these  conclusions  sustained  by  analo 
gies  of  the  most  striking  character,  and  discover  that  the  my 
thological  and  philosophical  notions  of  primitive  nations  ex- 

*  "  Nothing,"  says  M.  Leibnitz,  "  happens  without  a  reason  why  it 
happens  so  rather  than  otherwise." 


ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES.  261 

hibited  themselves  in  a  symbolical  system  which  extended  even 
to  the  form,  position,  and  ornaments  of  their  temples,  then  our 
conclusions  become  invested  with  a  double  value,  and  we  pro 
ceed  with  some  -degree  of  confidence  to  inquire  how  far  we  are 
justified  in  supposing  that  the  ancient  structures  of  the  Missis 
sippi  valley  indicate  the  character  of  the  worship  to  which  they 
were  dedicated.  We  have,  it  is  true,  neither  the  light  of  tradi 
tion  nor  of  history  to  guide  our  inquiries  ;  the  very  name  of  the 
mysterious  people  by  whom  these  works  were  erected  is  lost  to 
both,  and  a  night  darker  than  that  which  was  prophesied  should 
shroud  the  devoted  "  cities  of  the  plain "  rests  upon  them. 
Under  these  disadvantages,  every  attempt  to  clear  up  the  dark 
ness  may  fail ;  if,  however,  but  partially  successful — if  but  a 
single  ray  of  light  be  directed  upon  the  subject  of  our  inquiries, 
the  attempt  will  not  be  in  vain,  nor  stand  in  need  of  an 
apology. 

By  far  the  larger  proportion  of  the  sacred  structures  of  our 
country  are  circular  in  form  ;  so  also  were  the  temples  of  the 
ancient  Celts,  for  the  received  reason  that  they  were  dedicated 
to  the  worship  of  the  Sun,  whose  most  obvious  and  almost 
universal  symbol  is  the  circle.  Assuming,  upon  the  basis  of 
this  and  other  analogies,  that  their  circular  form  is  allusive  to 
the  former  existence,  among  the  people  by  whom  they  were 
built,  of  a  similar  system  or  form  of  worship,  what  further 
support  do  we  find  for  the  assumption,  in  the  known  religious 
notions  of  the  various  American  tribes  and  nations  ?  If,  in 
answer  to  this  question,  it  should  be  found  that  Sun  Worship, 
if  not  of  universal  prevalence,  greatly  predominated  throughout 
the  continent,  the  assumption  already  so  well  sustained  by 
analogy  rises  into  the  dignity  of  a  well-supported  hypothesis. 

It  has  already  been  remarked,  in  another  connection,  that 
the  worship  of  the  Sun  was  not  less  general  in  America  than  it 
was  at  one  period  among  the  primitive  nations  of  the  Old 
World.  It  existed  among  the  savage  hunter-tribes  and  among 
the  semi-civilized  nations  of  the  South ;  where  it  assumed  its 


262  ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES. 

most  complicated  and  imposing  form,  and  approximated  closely 
to  that  which  it  sustained  at  an  early  period  among  the  Asiatic 
nations — the  Egyptians,  Assyrians,  Hindoos,  Scythians,  and 
their  offshoots  in  Europe.  It  is  well  known  that  it  predomi 
nated  in  Peru,  and  was  intimately  connected  with  the  civil 
institutions  of  that  empire.  The  race  of  the  Incas  claimed 
their  descent  from  the  sun ;  to  that  luminary  they  erected 
their  most  gorgeous  temples  ;  and  the  eternal  fire,  everywhere 
emblematic  of  its  influences,  was  watchfully  maintained  by  the 
virgins  consecrated  to  its  service.  The  royal  Inca  himself  offi 
ciated  as  priest  of  the  sun,  on  every  return  of  its  annual  festival. 
The  Peruvians  also  paid  adoration  to  the  moon,  as  the  "  wife 
of  the  sun," — a  clear  recognition  of  the  doctrine  of  the  recipro 
cal  principles.  In  Mexico  also,  as  in  Central  America,  we  still 
discover,  beneath  a  complication  of  strange  observances  and 
bloody  rites,  the  simplicity  of  Toltican  Sabianism.  Upon  the 
high  altars  of  Aztec  superstition,  reeking  with  the  blood  of 
countless  human  victims,  we  still  find  the  eternal  fire ;  no 
longer,  however,  under  the  benign  guardianship  of  consecrated 
virgins,  but  consigned  to  the  vigilance  of  a  stern  and  rigorous 
priesthood.  And,  as  the  Inca  trusted  at  his  death  to  be 
received  to  the  bosom  of  his  father,  the  Sun,  so  too  did  the 
fiercer  Aztec  look  forward  with  confidence  to  eternal  existence 
and  beatitude  in  the  "  House  of  the  Sun."* 

The  Natchez  and  their  affiliated  tribes  were  worshippers  of 
the  sun,  to  which  they  erected  temples  and  performed  sacrifices. 
And  from  what  can  be  gathered  concerning  their  temples,  it  is 
rendered  probable  that  they  erected  structures  analogous  to 
those  under  notice.  They  also  maintained  a  perpetual  fire, 
and  their  chiefs  claimed  the  sun  as  their  father.  The  chiefs 
bore  the  distinguishing  title  of  Suns,  and  united  in  themselves 

*  Clavigero,  vol.  II.,  p.  3.  "  They  held  for  an  assured  faith  that  there 
were  nine  places  appointed  for  souls,  and  the  chiefest  place  of  glory 
was  to  be  near  the  sun." — (Gomera,  in  Purchas,  vol  III.,  p.  1137.) 


ABORIGINAL  SACRED  INCLOSURES.          263 

the  priestly  and  civil  functions. — ( Charlevoix,  Canada,  vol.  II., 
p.  273;  Du  Pratz,  Hist.  Louisiana,  vol.  II.,  pp.  178,  212; 
Hcrriot,  Hist.  Canada,]*.  508.)  The  natives  of  the  Barbadoes 
and  the  West  India  islands  generally,  worshipped  the  same 
celestial  body  in  conjunction  with  the  moon. — (Edward's  Hist. 
W.  Ind.,  vol.  I,  p.  80  ;  Davis 's  Barbadoes,  pp.  216,  236 ;  Her- 
rara,vol.  I.,  p.  162.)  The  Hurons  derived  the  descent  of  their 
chiefs  from  the  sun,  and  claimed  that  the  sacred  pipe  proceeded 
from  that  luminary. — ( Charlevoix,  Canada,  vol.  I.,  p.  322 ; 
Lafiteau,  vol.  I.,  p.  121.)  The  Pawnees,  Mandans,  and  Mina- 
tarees  had  a  similar  tradition  and  a  kindred  worship. — (NutaWs 
Arkansas,  p.  276.)  The  Dela  wares  and  the  Iroquois  offered 
sacrifices  to  the  sun  and  moon  ;  and,  in  common  with  the 
southern  Indians,  had  a  festival  in  honor  of  the  elementary  fire, 
whi'ch  they  considered  the  first  parent  of  the  Indian  nations. 
It  is  probable  that  their  council-fire  was  an  original  symbol  of 
their  religion. — (Loskiel,  pp.  41,  43;  Golden' s  Hist.  Five  Na 
tions,  vol.  I.,  pp.  115,  175  ;  Schoolcrafl' ]s  Narrative,  p.  20  ;  Brad 
ford's  Res.,  p.  352.)  The  Virginian  tribes  were  also  sun  wor 
shippers,  and  sustained  the  perpetual  fire  in  some  of  their 
temples.  The  same  is  true,  as  we  have  already  had  occasion  to 
show,  in  a  remarkable  manner,  of  the  Floridian  tribes ;  who,  if 
we  are  to  credit  the  accounts  of  the  early  voyagers,  sacrificed 
human  victims  to  the  sun. — (Ribauld,  MS. ;  Le  Moyne,  in  De 
Bry ;  Herrara,  Florida ;  Lafiteau,  Moeurs  des  Sauvages,  vol. 
I.,  p.  158  ;  Rochefort,  Hist.  Antilles,  Chap.  8.) 

The  Esquimaux,  the  natives  of  the  Northwest  Coast,  and  the 
California  Indians,  all  shared  in  this  worship. — (Hall's  Voy. 
(1631).  pp.  38,  61  ;  Vanegas's  California,  vol.  I,  p.  164.)  It 
prevailed  to  an  equal  extent  among  the  savage  tribes  of  South 
America.  In  connection  with  the  worship  of  the  moon,  it  ex 
isted  among  the  Muyscas  of  Colombia,  among  the  Araucanians, 
the  Puelches,  and  the  Botucados  of  Brazil. — (Herrara,  vol.  V., 
p.  90;  Molina,  vol.  II.,  p.  71;  Dobrizho/er,  vol.  II,  p.  89; 
Mod.  Trav.  in  Brazil,  vol.  II.,  p.  183.)  The  caziques  of  the 


264  ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES. 

Guaranies,  like  those  of  the  Natchez,  were  called  Suns,  and 
claimed  a  like  lofty  lineage.  The  evidence  upon  this  point 
might  be  greatly  extended,  but  enough  has  been  adduced  to 
establish  the  general  predominance  of  Sun  "Worship  in  America.* 

It  will  be  seen,  from  this  hasty  survey,  that  the  hypothesis 
which  ascribes  to  the  square,  circular,  and  other  regular  struc 
tures  of  the  Mississippi  valley  a  religious  origin,  and  to  their 
forms  a  symbolical  significance,  is  sustained  not  only  by  the 
most  obvious  circumstances  of  structure  and  position,  but  also 
by  striking  analogies,  derived  from  the  form  and  known  charac 
ter  of  corresponding  structures  in  other  parts  of  the  world.  It 
is  further  sustained  by  the  nature  of  the  worship,  which,  from 
its  wide  diffusion  and  great  prominence  among  the  American 
nations,  we  are  justified  in  supposing  was  elementary  and  per 
vaded  the  American  continent  from  the  earliest  period. 

It  may  be  objected  that  a  portion  of  these  structures  are 
square  or  octangular,  and  cannot  therefore,  whatever  may  be 
said  of  those  bearing  a  circular  form  (and  which  are  by  far  the 
most  numerous),  be  regarded  as  symbolizing  the  sun,  or  indicat 
ing  the  prevalence  of  sun  worship  among  the  builders.  Any 
attempts  to  answer  this  question  would  doubtless  involve  a 
very  extended  inquiry  into  the  form  and  connections  which  this 
worship  assumed,  both  in  the  Old-and  New  Worlds,  and  would 

*  "  Sun  worship  existed  extensively  in  North  as  well  as  South  America. 
There  is  reason  to  believe  that  the  ancestors  of  all  the  principal  existing 
tribes  of  America  worshipped  the  Eternal  Fire.  Both  from  their  records 
and  traditions,  as  well  as  their  existing  monuments,  this  conclusion  is 
irresistible.  *  *  *  Among  the  North  American  tribes,  the  graphic 
Ke-ke-win,  which  depicts  the  sun,  stands  on  their  pictorial  rolls  as  the 
symbol  of  the  Great  Spirit ;  and  no  important  rite  or  ceremony  is  under 
taken  without  an  offering  of  tobacco  to  him.  The  weed  is  lit  from  fire 
generated  anew  on  each  occasion." — (Schoolcraft,  Address  before  N.  Y- 
Hist.  Soc.,  1846,  p.  29.)  "  They  believe  in  the  sacred  character  of  fire, 
and  regard  it  as  the  mysterious  element  of  the  universe  typifying  di 
vinity."—  Ib.,  p.  35. 


' 


ABORIGINAL  SACRED  INCLOSURES.          265 

perhaps,  after  all,  bear  too  much  the  character  of  a  mere  specu 
lation  to  be  satisfactory,  or  in  any  degree  conclusive.  For  this 
reason  no  attempt  of  the  kind  will  be  made.  The  observations 
which  follow  are  thrown  out  suggestively,  as  furnishing  the 
possible  if  not  the  probable  principles  upon  which  some  of  these 
structures  were  built,  and  the  reasons  which  may  have  influ 
enced  the  singular  combinations  which  we  observe  between 
them. 

It  can  be  shown  that  the  doctrine  of  the  reciprocal  principles 
of  nature,  which  entered  so  largely  into  the  early  idolatry  of 
the  Eastern  World,  prevailed  also  in  America.  The  sun  and 
the  moon,  or  oftener,  the  sun  and  the  earth,  emblematized  these 
principles.  According  to  Mr.  Dudley  and  other  writers  on 
symbolism,  these  powers  among  the  primitive  idolaters  were 
figuratively  represented :  the  male  principle  by  the  circle,  the 
female  principle  by  the  square*  The  same  authorities  lay  it 
down  as  a  rule,  subject  to  few  exceptions,  that  whenever  the 
circular  form  is  adopted  in  sacred  structures,  the  worship  of  the 
male  principle  is  indicated ;  but  when  the  quadrangular,  then 
the  female  principle.  "  At  one  time,"  says  Mr.  Dudley,  "  the 
ancient  world  was  divided  in  the  worship  of  the  two  powers ; 
but  time  and  various  circumstances  contributed  to  effect  a  com 
promise,  which  resulted  in  the  combination  of  the  two  figures, 
or  the  adoption  of  the  octagonal  form  instead."  Mr.  Dudley 
instances  several  examples  of  these  combinations  among  the 
early  Grecian  and  Celtic  remains,  and  observes,  "  if  the  sacred 
structures  of  early  antiquity  were  examined  with  reference  to 
this  doctrine,  many  and  ample  proofs  of  its  truth  would  be 
discovered." — (Naology,  pp.  345,  358,  ubi  supra.) 

*  "  The  Chinese  have  consecrated  two  temples,  one  to  the  Heavens, 
the  other  to  the  Earth :  the  first  is  round,  the  second  square,  according 
to  the  theory  of  their  learned  men  ;  who,  with  the  Pythagoreans,  regard 
the  earth  as  a  cube,  and  the  heavens  a  sphere." — (De  Pau,  Res.  China 
and  Egypt,  vol.  II.,  p.  42.) 

12 


266  ABORIGINAL    SACRED    INCLOSURES. 

If  we  were  to  adopt  the  hypothesis  advanced  by  Mr.  Dudley, 
the  fact  that  the  American  nations  almost  universally  enter 
tained  the .  idea  that  the  earth  was  square,  would  become  in 
vested  with  importance. 

But,  as  already  observed,  these  latter  suggestions  are  simply 
thrown  forward  as  plausible,  and  not  as  indicating  a  settled 
opinion.  The  refinement  of  symbolism  which  they  imply,  will, 
however,  appear  less  improbable,  when  we  come  to  learn  to  what 
extent  the  semi-civilized  nations  of  America,  in  their  religious 
beliefs  and  conceptions,  display  an  identity  with  the  primitive 
nations  of  the  Old  World. 

The  hypothesis  of  a  symbolical  design  in  the  forms  and  com 
binations  of  these  structures  may  seem  somewhat  new  and 
startling  to  most  minds.  There  are,  however,  many  other  facts 
and  considerations  having  a  direct  bearing  upon  it,  which  will 
appear  in  a  succeeding  work.  Meantime,  and  before  passing 
to  collateral  inquiries,  it  will  not  be  out  of  place  to  repeat,  that 
the  great  size  of  many  of  the  structures  to  which  we  have 
assigned  a  sacred  origin,  precludes  the  idea  that  they  were 
temples  in  the  ordinary  acceptation  of  the  term.  It  is  probable 
that,  like  the  great  circles  of  England,  the  squares  of  India, 
Peru,  and  Mexico,  they  were  the  sacred  inclosures  within  which 
were  erected  the  shrines  of  the  gods  of  the  ancient  worship,  and 
the  altars  of  the  ancient  religion.  They  may  have  embraced 
consecrated  groves,  and,  as  they  did  in  Mexico,  the  residences 
of  the  ancient  priesthood.  Like  the  sacred  structures  of  the 
country  last  named,  some  of  them  may  have  been  secondarily 
designed  for  protection  in  times  of  danger. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

USE    OF    COPPER   AND    SILVER    BY   THE    AMERICAN   ABORIGINES. 

IN  the  paragraphs  relating  to  St.  Lawrence  county,  mention 
is  made  of  a  singular  aboriginal  deposit  or  burial,  on  the  Cana 
dian  shore  of  the  St.  Lawrence  River,  near  Brockville.  Here 
were  found  a  number  of  skeletons  and  a  variety  of  relics,  among 
which  were  a  number  of  copper  implements.  They  were  buried 
fourteen  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  ground.  Two  of  the 
copper  articles  were  clearly  designed  as  spear-heads  :  they  were 
pointed,  double-edged,  and  originally  capable  of  some  service. 
One  was  a  foot  in  length.  A  couple  of  copper  knives  accom 
panied  these,  and  also  an  implement  which  seems  to  have  been 
designed  as  a  gouge. — (Ancient  Monuments  of  Mississippi  Valley, 
p.  201.)  Some  implements  entirely  corresponding  with  these 
have  been  found  in  Isle  Royal,  and  at  other  places  in  and 
around  Lake  Superior.  Whether  or  not  these  are  relics  of  the 
existing  Indian  tribes,  it  is  not  undertaken  to  say,  although  it 
seems  highly  probable  that  they  are.  That  the  Indians  of  New 
England,  New  York,  and  Virginia,  to  a  limited  extent,  pos 
sessed  copper  ornaments  and  implements  at  the  time  of  the 
Discovery,  is  undoubted  ;  but  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  for  an 
instant  that  they  obtained  it  by  smelting  from  the  ores.  They 
unquestionably  procured  it  from  the  now  well  known  native 
deposits  around  Lake  Superior 

Raleigh  observed  copper  ornaments  among  the  Indians  on 
the  coast  of  the  Carolinas ;  and  Verazzano  mentions  articles, 
probably  ornamental,  of  wrought  copper,  among  the  natives 
which  he  visited  in  a  higher  latitude,  "  which  were  more  es- 


268  USE    OF    COPPER    AND    SILVER 

teemed  than  gold."  Granville  speaks  of  copper  among  the 
Indians  of  Virginia,  which  was  said  to  have  been  obtained 
among  the  Chawanooks  (Shawanoes?).  "  It  was  of  the  color 
of  our  copper,  but  softer."  He  endeavored  to  visit  the  place 
where  it  was  represented  to  be  found ;  but  after  a  toilsome 
journey  of  some  days  into  the  interior,  the  search  was  aban 
doned.  This  was  a  grievous  disappointment  at  that  time,  when 
the  minds  of  men  were  filled  with  visions  of  vast  mineral  wealth} 
and  when  the  value  of  the  New  World  was  thought  to  consist 
in  its  mines.  Granville  thus  concludes  his  account  of  his 
fruitless  expedition :  "  I  have  set  down  this  voyage  somewhat 
particularly,  to  the  end  that  it  may  appear  unto  you  (as  true  it 
is)  that  there  wanted  no  good  will,  from  the  first  to  the  last  of 
us,  to  have  perfected  the  discovery  of  this  mine ;  for  that  the 
discovery  of  a  good  mine,  by  the  goodness  of  God,  or  a  passage 
to  the  South  Sea,  or  some  way  to  it,  and  nothing  else,  can  bring 
our  country  in  request  to  be  inhabited  by  our  people." — ( Gran- 
mile's  Voy.,  1585,  in  Pinkerton,  vol.  XII,  p.  580.)  Heriot 
says,  "  In  two  towns  150  miles  from  the  main,  are  found  divers 
small  plates  of  copper,  that  are  made,  we  are  told  by  the  in 
habitants,  by  people  who  dwell  farther  in  the  country,  where, 
they  say,  are  mountains  and  rivers  which  yield  white  grains  of 
metal,  which  are  deemed  to  be  silver.  For  the  confirmation 
whereof,  at  the  time  of  our  first  arrival  in  the  country,  I  saw 
two  small  pieces  of  silver,  grossly  beaten,  about  the  weight  of  a 
tester,  [an  old  coin  about  the  weight  of  a  sixpence  sterling.] 
hanging  in  the  ears  of  a  Wiroance.  The  aforesaid  copper  we 
found  to  contain  silver." — (Heriot1  s  Voi/.:  1586,  in  Pink.,  vol. 
XII.,  p.  594.)  Robert  Juet,  in  his  account  of  Hudson's  dis 
covery  of  the  river  which  bears  his  name,  asserts  that  the 
savages  "  had  red  copper  tobacco  pipes,  and  other  things  of  cop 
per,  which  they  did  wear  about  their  necks."  He  makes  men 
tion,  in  another  place,  of  "  yellow  copper/'  as  distinct  from  what 
he  terms  "  red  copper."  Both  Behriri^  and  Kotzebue  found 
copper  implements  in  use  among  the  Indians  of  the  Northwest 


BY    THE    ABORIGINES.  269 

Coast. — (Behring's  First  Voy.,p.  85;  Kotzebue,  Voy.,vol.  I.,  p. 
227.)  McKenzie  mentions  copper  as  being  in  common  use 
among  some  of  the  extreme  Northern  tribes,  on  the  borders  of 
the  Arctic  Sea.  "  They  point  their  arrows  and  spears  with  it, 
and  work  it  up  into  personal  ornaments,  such  as  collars,  ear 
rings,  and  bracelets,  which  they  wear  on  their  wrists,  arms,  and 
legs.  They  have  it  in  great  abundance,  and  hold  it  in  high 
estimation." — (Second  Journey,  p.  333.)  Owing  to  the  difficulty 
of  reducing  iron  from  the  ore,  an  acquaintance  with  that  metal 
has  usually  been  preceded  by  a  knowledge  of  copper,  silver, 
and  gold.  "  These  three  metals,"  says  Robertson,  "  are  found 
in  their  perfect  state  in  the  clefts  of  rocks,  in  the  sides  of 
mountains,  or  in  the  channels  of  rivers.  They  were  accordingly 
first  known  and  applied  to  use.  But  the  gross  and  stubborn 
ore  of  iron,  the  most  serviceable  of  all  metals,  and  to  which  man 
is  most  indebted,  must  twice  feel  the  force  of  fire,  and  go 
through  two  laborious  processes,  before  it  becomes  fit  for  use." 
Says  Lucretius : 

"  Sed  prius  seris  erat,  quam  ferri  cognitus  usus." 

It  was  the  difficulty  of  obtaining  iron  from  the  ores,  or  the 
possession  of  the  art  of  so  tempering  or  hardening  copper  as  to 
make  it  answer  most  of  the  purposes  to  which  steel  is  now 
applied,  one  or  both,  that  perpetuated  the  use  of  bronze  instru 
ments  in  Egypt,  as  well  as  in  Greece  and  Rome,  long  after 
those  nations  became  acquainted  with  the  former  metal. 

It  may  be  regarded  as  certain,  that  the  American  aborigines, 
at  the  period  of  the  Discovery,  were  in  ignorance  of  the  uses  of 
iron.  It  is  true  Vespucius  mentions  a  tribe  of  natives  near 
the  mouth  of  the  La  Plata,  in  South  America,  who  possessed 
iron  points  to  their  arrows.  It  was  probably  obtained  from 
native  masses  in  that  vicinity.  The  inhabitants  of  Madagascar 
obtain  a  part  of  their  iron  from  such  sources.*  A  late  traveler 

*  Lieut.  H.  C.  Flagg,  Trans.  Am.  Association,  §th  Meeting,  p.  40.     It 


270  USE    OF    COPPER    AND    SILVER 

in  Chile  observes :  "  It  appears  that  the  Indians  of  Chile  had, 
at  the  time  of  their  discovery,  in  some  very  rare  instances,  iron 
blades  to  their  lances ;  which  led  to  the  erroneous  supposition 
that  they  were  so  far  advanced  in  metallurgy  as  to  be  able  to 
reduce  and  refine  that  metal  from  the  ores.  Our  surprise  will 
cease  upon  recollecting  that  this  valuable  metal  already  existed 
naturally  in  South  America,  in  the  very  extensive  deposits  of 
native  iron  at  Santiago  del  Estero,  which  has  proved  to  be  of 
meteoric  origin,  and  differing  from  that  at  Zacatecas  and 
Durango  in  Mexico,  described  by  Humboldt,  in  the  absence 


is  unnecessary  to  remark,  that  all  accounts  of  the  discovery  of  iron  in 
the  mounds,  or  under  such  circumstances  as  to  imply  a  date  prior  to  the 
Discovery,  are  sufficiently  vague  and  unsatisfactory.  The  fragment  of 
an  iron  wedge,  found  in  a  rock  near  Salem,  Washington  County,  Ohio, 
and  which  has  been  alluded  to  by  several  writers  upon  American 
antiquities,  does  not  probably  possess  an  antiquity  of  more  than  fifty 
years.  It  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Dr.  S.  P.  Hildreth,  of  Marietta ; 
and  its  history,  stripped  of  all  that  is  not  well  authenticated,  is  simply 
that  it  was  found  fastened  in  the  cleft  of  a  rock,  and  no  one  could  tell 
how  it  came  there  !  The  author  of  the  paper  on  American  antiquities, 
in  the  first  volume  of  the  Archaeologia  Americana,  states  that,  in  a 
mound  at  Circleville,  Ohio,  was  found  among  other  articles  "a  plate  of 
iron  which  had  become  an  oxyde  ;  but  before  it  was  disturbed  by  the 
spade,  resembled  a  plate  of  cast  iron. — (Archceol.  Am.,  vol.  I.,  p.  178.) 
It  is  obviously  no  easy  matter  to  detect  iron  when  fully  oxydized  in  the 
earth  ;  and  when  we  are  obliged  to  base  our  conclusions  respecting  the 
use  of  that  metal,  by  an  evidently  rude  people,  upon  such  remains,  if  any 
there  be,  the  strictest  examination  should  be  given  them ;  appearances 
alone  should  be  disregarded,  and  conclusions,  after  all,  drawn  with 
extreme  caution.  Whether  it  is  likely  the  requisite  discrimination  and 
judgment  were  exercised  in  this  case,  it  is  not  undertaken  to  say.  But 
few  masses  of  native  iron,  and  these  of  small  size  and  meteoric  origin, 
nave  been  found  in  this  country ;  consequently  the  presence  of  iron  to 
any  extent  among  the  mound-builders,  can  be  accounted  for  only  on  the 
assumption  that  they  understood  the  difficult  art  of  reducing  it  from  the 
ores,  which  involves  a  degree  of  knowledge,  and  an  advance  in  the  arts 
of  civilization,  not  attained  by  the  Mexicans  nor  by  the  Peruvians,  and 
not  sustained  by  the  authenticated  remains  of  the  mounds. 


BY    THE    ABORIGINES.  271 

of  earthy  matter,  and  in  not  being,  like  them,  in  round  masses, 
but  in  a  horizontal  bed  of  considerable  extent  and  variable 
thickness,  now  for  the  most  part  covered  with  drifting  sand, 
and  resting  on  abed  of  the  same  material." — (Mier's  Travels  in 
Chile,  etc.,  vol.  II.,  p.  464.)  Copper,  on  the  other  hand,  seems 
to  have  been  very  abundant,  and  much  used  for  implements, 
among  all  the  semi-civilized  nations  of  the  continent.  Colum 
bus,  when  at  Cape  Honduras,  was  visited  by  a  trading  canoe 
of  Indians.  Among  the  various  articles  of  merchandise  which 
constituted  their  cargo,  were  "  small  hatchets,  made  of  copper, 
to  hew  wood,  small  bells  and  plates,  crucibles  to  melt  copper, 
etc." — (Herrara,  vol.  I.  p  260.)  When  the  Spaniards  first 
entered  the  province  of  Tuspan.  they  found  the  Indians  in 
possession  of  an  abundance  of  copper  axes,  which,  in  their 
greediness,  they  mistook  for  gold,  and  were  much  mortified 
upon  discovering  their  mistake.  "  Each  Indian,"  says  Barnal 
Diaz,  "  had,  besides  his  ornaments  of  gold,  a  copper  axe,  which 
was  very  highly  polished,  with  the  handle  curiously  carved,  as 
if  to  serve  equally  for  an  ornament  as  for  the  field  of  battle. 
We  first  thought  these  axes  were  made  of  an  inferior  kind  of 
gold ;  we  therefore  commenced  taking  them  in  exchange,  and 
in  the  space  of  two  days  had  collected  more  than  six  hundred  ; 
with  which  we  were  no  less  rejoiced,  as  long  as  we  were  ignorant 
of  their  real  value,  than  the  Indians  with  our  glass  beads."  In 
the  list  of  articles  exacted  as  an  annual  tribute  from  the  various 
departments  of  the  Mexican  empire,  as  represented  by  the 
Mexican  paintings,  were  "  one  hundred  and  sixty  axes  of  cop 
per"  from  the  southern  divisions. 

Fig.  48  is  copied  from  the  tribute  tables,  and  illus- 
rates  the  form  of  the  axes  required  to  be  paid  to 
the  emperor.  This  seems  to  have  been  the  usual 
form,  which,  however,  was  sometimes  slightly  modi 
fied,  so  as  to  give  them  a  broader  cutting  edge.  The 
following  example,  Figs.  49  and  50,  are  drawings  of  originals 


272 


USE    OF    COPPER    AND    SILVER 


FIG.  49. 


obtained  by  Du  Paix,  and  published  among  the  plates  of  his 
antiquarian  tour.    They  are  engraved  of  one  fourth  their  actual 


size. 


They  were  part  of  a  deposit  of  two  hundred  and  seventy-six, 


BY    THE    ABORIGINES. 


273 


of  like  character,  found  buried  in  two  large  earthen  vases,  in 
the  vicinity  of  Oxaca,  and  are  'of  alloyed  copper,  and  cast. 
"  Such,"  says  Du  Paix,  "  are  much  sought  by  the  silversmiths, 
on  account  of  their  fine  alloy." 

Fig.   51   is  a  chisel,  of  similar   composition,  found  in  the 


FIG.  51. 

vicinity  of  Mexico,  and  also  figured  by  Du  Paix.    It  is  engraved 
one  fourth  of  the  original  size. 

The  methods  in  which  these  axes  were  used  are  well  shown 
in  the  subjoined  cuts,  faithfully  copied  from  the  Mexican 
paintings,  Figs.  52  and  53.  They  require  no  explanation 


274  USE    OF    COPPER    AND    SILVER 

beyond  what  is  furnished  by  Clavigero,  who  says  :  "  The  Mex 
icans  made  use  of  an  axe  to  cut  trees,  which  was  also  made  of 
copper,  and  was  of  the  same  form  as  those  of  modern  times, 
except  that  we  put  the  handle  in  an  eye"  of  the  axe,  while  they 
put  the  axe  in  an  eye  of  the  handle."  Fig  54  is  copied  from 
the  Mendoza  Paintings,  and  represents  a  carpenter  using  one 
of  these  axes,  or  one  very  similar,  adjusted,  probably,  so  as  to 
answer  the  purpose  of  an  adze. 

In  the  Mexican  battle  paintings,  we  occasionally  observe 
weapons,  the  blades  of  which  were  of  copper,  as  is  shown  by 
their  green  color,  and  which  were  used  something  after  the 
manner  of  the  battle-axe.  Examples  are  here  given,  Fig.  55. 


FIG.  55. 

But  although  copper  was  used  for  such  purposes,  it  does  not 
appear  that  it  entirely  substituted  itself  for  stone  ;  for  stone 
axes,  and  weapons  formed  by  inserting  blades  of  obsidian  or 
itzli  in  solid  pieces  of  wood,  were  common  as  late  as  the  period 
of  the  Spanish  conquest.  The  instrument  this  formed  was 
called  mahquahuitl,  and  was  much  dreaded  by  the  Spaniards, 
who  told  wonderful  stories  of  their  efficiency,  affirming  that  a 
single  stroke  was  sufficient  to  cut  a  man  through  the  middle,  or 
decapitate  a  horse.  Figs.  56  and  57  are  examples  from  the 
paintings,  and  Fig  58  is  copied  from  the  monuments  at  Chichen 
Itza,  in  Yucatan.  The  latter  represents  an  axe,  or  rather, 


FIG.  56.  FIG.  57. 


BY    THE    ABORIGINES. 


275 


FIG.  58. 


weapon  of  war,  made  by  inserting  blades  of  obsidian  in  a  handle 
of  wood,  as  above  described.  It  will  be  seen  by  reference  to 
vol.  I.,  p.  211,  of  the  Smithsonian  Contributions,  that  there  is 
reason  to  believe  that  an  entirely  corresponding  practice  pre 
vailed  among  the  mound-builders.  The  device  is  an  extremely 


Fro.  59. 


276 


USE    OF    COPPER    AND    SILVER 


simple  one,  and  seems  to  have  been  common  to  many  rude 
nations. 

The  copper  axes  of  ancient  Egypt  closely  resembled  those 
above  described,  both  in  form  and  the  mode  of  attachment  to 
the  handle.  The  illustration  on  the  preceding  page,  Fig.  59, 
reduced  from  one  of  Yisconti's  plates,  represents  one  of  unique 
and  ornamental  workmanship.  It  will  be  observed  that  it  is 
also  lashed  to  the  handle  with  thongs  :  differing  from  the  prim 
itive  American  axe  only  in  the  manner  of  insertion.  In  this 
instance  the  broad  end  of  the  tool 
is  sunk  in  the  wood 

The  Mexicans  also  used  copper 
to  point  their  spears  and  arrows  ; 
although  here  obsidian  was  often 
substituted.  Fig.  60  is  a  represen- 


FIG.  60. 


tation  of  a  short  javelin,  which  we 
find  of  frequent  occurrence  in  the 
paintings,  and  which  seems  to  have 
been  used  only  in  close  combat. 
The  long  javelin,  or  that  which  was 
thrown  from  the  hand,  is  well  shown 
in  Fig.  61,  which  exhibits  the  man- 


Fio.  61. 


BY    THE    ABORIGINES.  277 

ner  in  which  it  was  thrown,  and  also  the  xuiatlatli,  or  instru 
ment  used  in  throwing  it,  and  by  means  of  which  it  was 
sent  with  greater  accuracy  and  force  than  could  otherwise 
be  attained.  The  gods  are  almost  always  represented,  in 
the  mythological  paintings,  holding  the  xuiatlatli  in  their 
hands.  It  is  often  fancifully  ornamented  with  tassels  and 
feathers. 

The  Peruvians  used  copper  for  precisely  the  same  purposes 
with  the  Mexicans.  Says  La  Vega,  "  They  make  their  arms, 
knives,  carpenters'  tools,  large  pins,  hammers  for  their  forges, 
and  their  mattocks,  of  copper  ;  for  which  reason  they  seek  it  in 
preference  to  gold."  And  Ulloa  adds,  "  The  copper  axes  of 
the  Peruvians  differ  very  little  in  shape  from  ours  ;  and  it 
appears  that  these  were  the  implements  with  which  they  per 
formed  most  of  their  works.  They  are  of  various  shapes  and 
sizes  ;  the  edge  of  some  is  more  circular  than  others,  and  some 
have  a  concave  edge." — (vol.  I.,  p.  483.) 

The  knowledge  of  alloying  was  possessed  by  both  the  Mexi 
cans  and  Peruvians,  whereby  they  were  enabled  to  make  in 
struments  of  copper  of  sufficient  hardness  to  answer  the  pur 
poses  for  which  steel  is  now  deemed  essential.  Their  works  in 
stone  and  wood,  whether  in  dressing  the  huge  blocks  of  por 
phyry  composing  some  of  their  structures,  or  in  sculpturing 
the  unique  statues  which  are  found  scattered  over  the  seats  of 
their  ancient  cities,  were  carried  on  entirely  with  such  instru 
ments,  or  with  still  ruder  ones  of  obsidian  and  other  hard 
stones. 

The  metal  used  as  an  alloy  was  tin ;  and  the  various  Peru 
vian  articles  subjected  to  an  analysis,  are  found  to  contain  from 
three  to  six  per  cent,  of  that  metal.  The  chisel  analyzed  by 
Humboldt  contained  copper  94,  tin  6. — (Res.,  vol.  I.,  p.  260.) 
Figure  62  is  a  reduced  sketch  of  a  copper  knife  found  in  Peru, 
by  J.  H.  Blake,  Esq.,  of  Boston.  It  has  about  four  per  cent, 
of  tin.  This  gentleman  informs  me,  that  "  the  knives,  gravers, 


278  USE    OF    COPPER    AND    SILVER 


and  other  implements  found  by  myself  in  Peru,  contain  from 
three  and  a  half  to  four  per  cent,  of  tin,  which  is  sufficient  to 
give  them  a  very  considerable  degree  of  hardness.*  The  knives 
which  I  send  you  were  found  about  the  person  of  a  mummy 
which  I  took  from  an  ancient  cemetery  near  Arico.  Various 
household  articles  were  found  with  it ;  but  these  were  the  only 
ones  of  metal,  except  a  medal  of  silver  suspended  around  the 
neck.  The  chisels  or  gravers  are  pointed  at  one  end,  with  a 
cutting  edge  at  the  broad  part.  They  were  found  at  various 
places  in  the  northern  part  of  Peru.  At  the  ancient  city  of 
Atacama,  I  found  several  hoes  of  copper,  shaped  very  much  like 
the  i  grubbing-hoes '  to  be  found  in  our  warehouses." 

Figure  63  is  a  reduced  sketch  of  an  ancient  Peruvian  spear 
head,  of  copper,  found  in  a  Peruvian  huaca  or  tumulus,  near 
Lima,  whence  it  was  brought  by  the  late  Dr.  Marmaduke  Bur 
roughs,  in  1826,  and  by  him  presented  to  Dr.  S.  G.  Morton,  of 
Philadelphia,  in  whose  possession  it  now  is.  It  is  somewhat 
flattened,  and  regularly  four-sided  from  the  point  to  within 
a  third  of  the  distance  from  the  larger  end,  where  it  be- 

*  The  Indians  of  Chile,  previous  to  the  discovery  by  the  Spaniards, 
made  use  of  a  kind  of  bronze  metal,  found  native  in  the  country,  which 
is  an  alloy  of  copper,  zinc,  and  antimony,  called  campanil  by  the  Span 
iards.  From  this  they  formed  their  cutting  instruments.—  (Mier's  Trav.t 
vol.  II.,  p.  464.) 


BY    THE    ABORIGINES. 

comes  cylindrical.  This  part  is  hollow,  for  the 
reception  of  the  handle.  The  metal  is  not  hard 
ened,  and  is  now  covered  with  a  green  oxyde. 
The  length  of  the  weapon  is  seventeen  inches, 
and  the  diameter,  at  the  larger  end,  one  inch  and 
one-tenth. 

Figure  64  is  a  full-size  engraving  of  one  of  the 
arrow-points  discovered  with  a  skeleton  near  Fall 
River,  Massachusetts,  in  the  year  1831.  With  this 
skeleton  were  found  a  corroded  plate  of  brass, 
supposed  to  have  constituted  a  breastplate,  and 
a  number  of  rude  tubes  of  the  same  metal,  com 
posing  a  sort  of  belt  or  cincture.  The  arrow 
points  are  two  inches  in  length,  and  one  and  one- 
third  inches  broad  at  the  base.  This  skeleton 
attracted  a  good  deal  of  attention  at  the  time,  and 
was  supposed  to  lend  some  sanction  to  the  then 
popular  theory  of  the  early  discovery  and  settle 
ment  of  the  coast  of  New  England  by  the  North 
men.  An  analysis  of  the  compound  metal  of 
which  the  relics  were  composed,  was  made  by 
Berzelius,  under  the  direction  of  the  Royal  So 
ciety  of  Antiquaries  of  Denmark.  The  result 
of  the  analysis  was  published  by  that  learned 
body,  in  the  following  comparative  table : 


FIG    63. 


FIG.  64. 


280  USE    OF    COPPER    AND    SILVER 

Copper.     Zinc.        Tin.      Lead.      Iron. 

Brass  from  Fall  Kiver,    .    .     .    70.29    28.03    0.91    0.74    0.03 

Old  Danish, 67.13    20.39    9.24    3.39    0.11 

Modern  Brass, 70.16    27.45    0.79    0.20     — 

It  will  be  seen  by  the  table,  that  the  metallic  relics  found  at 
Fall  River  bear  in  their  composition  a  suspicious  resemblance 
to  modern  brass.  They  certainly  differ  widely,  in  this  respect, 
from  any  of  the  alloys  of  copper  found  elsewhere  on  the  con 
tinent.  Without  alluding  to  the  rudeness  of  the  workmanship 
exhibited  by  the  Fall  River  relics — a  rudeness  entirely  incon 
sistent  with  that  stage  of  advancement  indicated  by  a  know 
ledge  of  smelting  and  alloying  the  metals — the  fact  that  the 
skeleton  accompanying  them  was  found  buried,  after  the  Indian 
mode,  in  a  sitting  posture,  and  enveloped  in  bark,  places  in  a 
very  strong  light  the  probability  that  the  burial  was  made 
subsequent  to  the  first  settlement  of  New  England,  in  1625, 
and  that  the  relics  were  of  native  manufacture,  from  sheets  or 
plates  of  brass  obtained  from  the  early  colonists.  This  proba 
bility  is  further  sustained,  by  the  circumstance  that  a  portion 
of  the  wood  attached  to  the  arrows  was  still  preserved,  as  was 
also  a  large  proportion  of  the  bark  envelope  of  the  skeleton,  at 
the  time  of  its  discovery  ;  which  could  hardly  be  the  case,  if  its 
interment  had  been  made  as  early  as  the  tenth  century,  which 
is  the  period  assigned  to  the  Scandinavian  visits.  It  cannot 
be  claimed  that  the  preservative  properties  of  the  salts  of  the 
copper  could  have  more  than  a  very  local  application  or  influ 
ence. 

And  while  upon  this  point,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  Wood, 
in  his  "New  England  Prospect,"  published  in  1634,  (p.  90,) 
distinctly  states  that  the  Indians  obtained  brass  of  the  English 
for  their  ornaments  and  arrow-heads,  the  last  of  which,  he  adds, 
"  they  cut  in  the  shape  of  a  heart  and  triangle,  and  fastened  in  a 
slender  piece  of  wood,  six  or  eight  inches  long"  in  a  manner, 
according  to  the  description,  precisely  similar  to  that  observed 
in  the  articles  found  with  the  Fall  River  skeleton.  If  any 


BY    THE    ABORIGINES. 

further  evidence  were  needed  to  establish  the  opinions  already 
advanced,  it  might  be  found  in  the  fact  that,  a  few  years  ago, 
in  the  town  of  Medford,  near  Boston,  in  Massachusetts,  a  skele 
ton  was  exhumed,  accompanying  which  were  found  some  flint 
arrow-heads,  and  some  brass  arrow-points,  identical  with  those 
discovered  at  Fall  River,  together  with  a  knife  of  the  English 
manufacture  of  two  hundred  years  ago.  Fig.  65  is  a  full-sized 


FIG.  65. 

engraving  of  the  arrow-point  in  question,  which  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  the  author. 

It  has  already  been  suggested  that  the  shore  of  Lake 
Superior  is  the  probable  locality  whence  the  copper  used  by 
the  aborigines  of,  at  least,  the  Eastern  and  Middle  States  was 
obtained.  This  suggestion  is  rendered  more  than  probable  by 
the  fact  that  abundant  traces  of  aboriginal  mining  have  been 
discovered  there  in  the  course  of  recent  explorations.  Some  of 
the  more  productive  veins  in  the  "  Copper  Region"  seem  to 
have  been  anciently  worked  to  a  considerable  extent.  The 
vein  belonging  to  the  "  Minnesota  Company"  exhibits  evidence 
of  having  been  worked  for  a  distance  of  two  miles.  The  an 
cient  operations  are  indicated  by  depressions  or  open  cuts  on 
the  course  of  the  vein.  Upon  excavating  these,  ample  proofs 
of  their  artificial  origin  are  discovered,  consisting  of  broken 
implements  of  various  kinds,  stone  axes,  hammers,  etc.  Traces 


USE    OF    COPPER    AND    SILVER 

of  fire  are  also  frequent.  Some  of  the  excavations  are  found 
to  have  extended  to  the  depth  of  thirty  feet.  In  the  mine  of 
the  particular  company  above  named,  covered  by  fifteen  feet 
of  accumulated  soil,  and  beneath  trees  not  less  than  four  hun 
dred  years  old,  was  found  a  mass  of  pure  copper,  weighing 
11,537  Ibs.j  from  which  every  particle  of  the  rock  had  been 
removed.  It  had  been  supported  by  skids,  and  was  surrounded 
by  traces  of  the  fire  which  had  probably  been  used  to  disen 
gage  the  rock.  Here,  too,  were  found  various  rude  implements 
of  copper. 

At  the  Copper  Falls  and  Eagle  River,  as  at  the  Vulcan  and 
other  mines,  the  ancient  shafts  are  frequently  discovered.  Pro 
fessor  W.  W.  Mather,  the  eminent  geologist,  in  a  private  letter, 
referring  to  the  two  mines  first  named,  says :  "  On  a  hill,  south 
of  the  Copper  Falls  Mine,  is  an  excavation,  several  feet  in 
depth  and  several  rods  in  length,  extending  along  the  course 
of  the  river.  Fragments  of  rock,  etc.,  thrown  out  of  the  excava 
tion,  are  piled  up  along  its  sides,  the  whole  covered  with  soil, 
and  overgrown  with  bushes  and  trees.  On  removing  the 
accumulations  from  the  excavation,  stone  axes  of  large  size, 
made  of  green-stone,  and  shaped  to  receive  withe  handles,  are 
found.  Some  large  round  green-stone  masses,  that  had  ap 
parently  been  used  for  sledges,  were  also  found.  They  had 
round  holes  bored  in  them  to  the  depth  of  several  inches,  which 
seemed  to  have  been  designed  for  wooden  plugs,  to  which  withe 
handles  might  be  attached,  so  that  several  men  could  swing 
them  with  sufficient  force  to  break  the  rock  and  the  projecting 
masses  of  copper.  Some  of  them  were  broken,  and  some  of  the 
projecting  ends  of  rock  exhibited  marks  of  having  been  battered 
in  the  manner  here  suggested." 

The  great  Ontonagon  mass  of  virgin  copper,  now  deposited 
at  Washington,  when  found,  exhibited  marks  of  having  had 
considerable  portions  cut  from  it :  and  the  ground  around  it 
was  strewed  with  fragments  of  stone  axes,  which  had  been 
broken  in  endeavors  to  detach  portions  of  the  mass.  It  is  not 


BY    THE    ABORIGINES. 

impossible  that  this  mass  was  one  of  those  which  had  been 
brought  to  the  surface  by  the  ancient  miners.* 

The  questions  naturally  arise,  By  whom  were  these  ancient 
mining  operations  carried  on  ?  and  to  what  era  may  they  be 
referred  1  Without  noticing  the  improbable  suggestion,  that 
the  various  excavations  which  have  been  discovered  are  due  to 
the  French,  (who,  it  is  well  known,  were  early  acquainted  with 
the  mineral  riches  of  the  Northwest,)  we  may  find  a  satisfactory 
answer  to  the  first  of  these  questions,  if  not  to  the  last,  in  the 
character  of  the  deposits  which  recent  explorations  have  dis 
closed  from  the  mounds  of  the  West.  Among  the  multitude 
of  relics  of  art  found  buried  upon  the  ancient  altars,  or  beside 
the  bones  of  the  dead,  articles  of  copper  are  of  common  occur 
rence.  It  is  sometimes  found  in  native  masses,  but  generally 
worked  into  articles  of  use  or  ornament.  I  have  taken  from 
the  mounds  axes,  well  wrought  from  single  pieces,  weighing 

*  Since  the  above  was  written,  the  subjoined  additional  facts  have 
been  published  in  the  Lake  Superior  Journal  newspaper,  of  the  date  of 
September  25,  1850 : 

"  We  have  been  shown  by  Charles  Whittlesey,  Esq.,  of  the  Ontonagon 
Mine,  a  copper  arrow-head,  and  a  piece  of  human  skull  and  other  bones, 
which  have  lately  been  found  in  the  ancient  Indian  excavations  on  the 
Ontonagon  River.  The  arrow-head  is  now  about  two  inches  in  length, 
and  seems  to  have  had  originally  a  socket,  though  but  part  of  it  remains. 
Several  chisels,  or  instruments  resembling  chisels,  having  sockets  like 
the  common  carpenter's  chisel,  and  small  gads  or  wedges,  have  also 
been  found  at  the  Minnesota  Mine. 

"  But  the  greatest  curiosity  we  have  seen  in  the  way  of  these  articles 
is  a  stick  of  oak  timber  lately  taken  out  of  one  of  the  ancient  '  pits,'  or 
shafts,  at  the  Minnesota  Mine,  twenty-seven  feet  below  the  surface.  It 
is  a  small  tree,  about  ten  feet  in  length,  and  eight  or  ten  inches  in 
diameter,  having  short  limbs  two  feet  apart,  and  at  nearly  right  angles 
with  one  another ;  and  on  this  account,  and  from  its  standing  nearly 
upright,  it  is  supposed  to  have  been  used  as  a  ladder  by  the  ancient 
miners.  In  this  shaft  and  around  and  over  this  stick,  were  rocks  and 
earth,  and  large  trees  were  growing  over  it.  Many  centuries  must  have 
elapsed  since  that  ancient  ladder  was  placed  there. 


284  USE    OF    COPPER    AND    SILVER 

upwards  of  two  pounds  each.  They  are  symmetrical,  corre 
sponding  very  nearly  in  shape  with  the  Mexican  and  Peruvian 
axes.  Some  are  double-bladed,  others  gouge-shaped,  and  evi 
dently  designed  to  be  used  as  adzes.  Besides  these,  chisels, 
graving  tools,  and  a  great  variety  of  ornaments,  bracelets,  gor 
gets,  beads,  etc.,  etc.,  composed  of  this  metal,  have  been  dis 
covered.  Some  of  the  ornaments  are  covered  with  silver, 
beaten  to  great  thinness,  and  so  closely  wrapped  around  the 
copper  that  many  persons  have  supposed  that  the  ancient  people 
understood  the  difficult  art  of  plating. 

Some  years  ago,  a  mass  of  native  copper,  weighing  upwards 
of  twenty  pounds,  was  found  upon  the  banks  of  the  Scioto 
River,  near  Chilicothe,  in  Ohio.  Large  portions  had  evidently 
been  cut  from  it.  The  discovery  of  these  native  masses,  not 
to  mention  the  amount  of  the  manufactured  copper,  implying  a 
large  original  supply,  points  pretty  certainly  to  the  shores  of 
Lake  Superior  as  the  locality  whence  the  metal  was  obtained. 
There  are  other  circumstances,  still  more  conclusive,  and  which, 
taken  in  connection  with  the  traces  of  ancient  mining  in  the 
mineral  region,  leave  no  room  to  doubt  that  the  race  of  the 
mounds  obtained  their  supplies  of  copper  from  that  direction. 
It  is  well  known  that  while  some  of  the  Lake  Superior  copper 
is  almost  perfectly  pure,  a  part  is  alloyed  with  silver  in  various 
proportions,  and  some  is  found  having  crystals  of  silver  attached 
to  it — a  peculiar  mechanico-chemical  combination,  known  to  exist 
nowhere  except  in  this  region.  This  characteristic  combination 
has  been  observed  in  some  of  the  specimens,  both  worked  and 
unworked,  found  in  the  mounds,  and  enables  us  to  identify 
fully  their  primitive  locality.  The  great  industry  and  skill 
which  the  mound-builders  displayed  in  the  numerous  and  often 
gigantic  monuments  which  they  have  left  us  at  the  West, 
warrant  us  in  ascribing  the  ancient  excavations,  etc.,  in  the 
mineral  region  to  them.  The  Indian  hunter  is  proverbially 
averse  to  labor  ;  and  we  have  no  instance  of  the  Indians  under 
taking  works  of  this  extent.  Still,  it  cannot  be  doubted  that 


BY    THE    ABORIGINES.  285 

they  also  obtained  copper  from  this  region.  Indeed,  we  have 
direct  evidence  of  the  fact ;  but  it  is  probable  that  they  pro 
cured  it  only  in  small  quantities,  when  it  was  found  exposed  at 
the  surface,  or  on  the  banks  of  streams.  Alexander  Henry  ? 
who  penetrated  to  Lake  Superior  at  the  period  of  the  second 
French  war,  assures  us  that  the  Indians  obtained  copper  here, 
which  they  "  made  into  bracelets,  spoons,"  etc. — ( Travels,  p. 
195.)  As  we  have  seen,  the  early  explorers  on  the  coasts  of 
New  England,  New  York,  Virginia,  the  Carolinas,  and  Florida, 
among  whom  we  may  mention  Hudson,  Verrazano,  Raleigh, 
Heriot,  Ribaude,  De  Soto,  all  concur  in  saying  that  the  Indians 
had  copper  in  small  quantities  among  them,  which  they  worked 
into  pipes  and  ornaments.  De  Soto  found  copper  hatchets 
among  some  of  the  tribes  along  the  Gulf,  which  they  professed 
to  have  obtained  from  "  a  province  called  Chisca,  far  toward 
the  North." 

All  the  copper  found  in  the  mounds  appears  to  have  been 
worked  in  a  cold  state ;  and  although  the  axes  and  other 
instruments  appear  to  be  harder  than  the  copper  of  commerce, 
they  have  been  found,  upon  analysis,  to  be  destitute  of  alloy. 
The  superior  hardness  which  they  possess  over  the  unworked 
metal,  is  doubtless  due  to  the  hammering  to  which  they  have 
been  subjected.  Some  of  the  sculptures  in  porphyry,  and 
other  hard  stones  found  in  the  mounds,  exhibit  traces  of  having 
been  cut ;  but  as  they  now  turn  the  edge  of  the  best  tempered 
knife,  we  are  at  a  loss  to  conjecture  how  they  were  so  elabo 
rately  and  delicately  worked.  The  lack  of  cutting  implements, 
among  most  rude  people,  is  partially  met  by  various  contriv 
ances,  the  most  common  of  which  is  attrition,  or  rubbing  or 
grinding  on  hard  stones.  It  was  thus  the  stone  axes,  etc.,  of 
the  early  Indians  were  slowly  and  laboriously  brought  into 
shape.  It  however  needs  but  a  single  glance  at  the  mound 
sculptures  to  convince  the  observer  that  such  rude  means  are 
wholly  inadequate  to  the  production  of  works  possessing  so 
much  delicacy  of  execution. 


286  USE    OF    COPPER    AND    SILVER 

The  Mexicans  and  Peruvians  were  wholly  unacquainted  with 
the  use  of  iron  ;  and  their  carvings,  etc.,  were  all  wrought  with 
copper  tools.  They,  however,  contrived  to  harden  them  with 
an  alloy  of  from  three  to  seven  per  cent,  of  tin.  I  have  some 
of  their  implements  in  my  possession,  which  answer  a  very 
good  cutting  purpose.  It  nevertheless  seems  incomprehensible 
how  their  extensive  works  in  granite,  porphyry,  and  other 
obstinate  materials,  could  be  carried  on  with  such  aids.  The 
Egyptians,  although  not  ignorant  of  iron,  were  compelled,  by  a 
variety  of  circumstances,  to  use  copper  tools,  and  with  these 
most  of  their  gigantic  labors  were  effected.  They  must  of 
necessity  have  had  some  means  of  hardening  the  metals ;  yet 
it  is  a  singular  fact,  that  with  the  exception  of  a  few  bronze 
weapons  of  probably  a  comparatively  late  date,  the  chisels  and 
other  implements  found  in  the  monuments  and  at  the  quarries 
are  pure  copper. 

USE  OF  SILVER  BY  THE  AMERICAN  ABORIGINES. — Granville, 
as  we  have  seen  in  the  quotation  from  his  voyage  on  page  177, 
speaks  of  finding  pieces  of  silver  among  the  Virginia  Indians, 
"  grossly  beaten,"  and  used  for  purposes  of  ornament.  Having 
shown  that  the  copper  found  among  the  Indian  tribes  of  the 
north  was  probably  obtained  from  the  native  deposits  around 
Lake  Superior,  we  have  little  difficulty  in  accounting  for  the 
presence  among  them  of  small  quantities  of  silver,  derived 
from  the  same  localit}^  where  it  also  exists  in  a  native  form. 
That  the  silver  in  use  among  the  mound-builders  was  princi 
pally  if  not  wholly  obtained  there,  seems  incontestible.  In  no 
instance  does  it  appear  to  have  been  smelted. 

A  variety  of  silver  ornaments  were  discovered  some  years 
ago  in  one  of  the  mounds  at  Marietta,  Ohio,  under  very  singular 
circumstances,  and  in  a  remarkable  connection.  The  circum 
stances  have  been  detailed  by  the  accurate  pen  of  Dr.  S.  P. 
HILDRETH,  in  a  communication  to  the  President  of  the  Ameri 
can  Antiquarian  Society,  dated  "  Marietta,  Nov.  3,  1819." 

"  In  removing  the  earth  composing  an  ancient  mound  in  the 


BY    THE    ABORIGINES.  287 

streets  of  Marietta,  on  the  margin  of  the  plain,  near  the  fortifi 
cations,  several  curious  articles  were  discovered.  They  appear 
to  have  been  buried  with  the  body  of  the  person  to  whose 
memory  the  mound  was  erected. 

"  Lying  immediately  over,  or  on  the  forehead  of  the  body, 
were  found  three  large  circular  bosses,  or  ornaments  for  a 
sword-belt  or  a  buckler :  they  are  composed  of  copper  overlaid 
with  a  thick  plate  of  silver.  The  fronts  are  slightly  convex, 
with  a  depression  like  a  cup  in  the  centre,  and  measure  two 
inches  and  a  quarter  across  the  face  of  each.  On  the  back 
side,  opposite  the  depressed  portion,  is  a  copper  rivet  or  nail, 
around  which  are  two  separate  plates,  by  which  they  were 
fastened  to  the  leather.  Two  small  pieces  of  the  leather  were 
found  lying  between  the  plates  of  one  of  these  bosses ;  they 
resemble  the  skin  of  a  mummy,  and  seem  to  have  been  pre 
served  by  the  salts  of  copper.  The  copper  plates  are  nearly 
reduced  to  an  oxyde,  or  rust.  The  silver  looks  quite  black,  but 
is  not  much  corroded,  and  in  rubbing  is  quite  brilliant.  Two 
of  these  are  yet  entire  5  the  third  one  is  so  much  wasted  that 
it  dropped  in  pieces  in  removing  it  from  the  earth.  Around 
the  rivets  of  one  of  them  is  a  small  quantity  of  flax  or  hemp,  in 
a  tolerable  state  of  preservation.  Near  the  side  of  the  body 
was  found  a  plate  of  silver,  which  appears  to  have  been  the 
upper  part  of  a  sword-scabbard  ;  it  is  six  inches  in  length  and 
two  inches  in  breadth,  and  weighs  one  ounce.  It  has  no  orna 
ments  or  figures,  but  has  three  longitudinal  ridges,  which 
probably  corresponded  with  the  edges  or  ridges  of  the  sword ; 
it  seems  to  have  been  fastened  to  the  scabbard  by  three  or 
four  rivets,  the  holes  of  which  remain  in  the  silver. 

"  Two  or  three  broken  pieces  of  a  copper  tube  were  also 
found  filled  with  iron  rust.  These  pieces,  from  their  appearance, 
composed  the  lower  end  of  the  scabbard,  near  the  point  of  the 
sword.  No  signs  of  the  sword  itself  were  discovered,  except 
the  appearance  of  rust  above  mentioned.  Near  the  feet  was 
found  a  piece  of  copper  weighing  three  ounces  [now  in  the  Muse- 


288  USE    OF    COPPER    AND    SILVER 

um  of  the  Antiquarian  Society  of  Worcester].  From  its  shape 
it  appears  to  have  been  used  as  a  plumb,  or  for  an  ornament,  as 
near  one  of  the  ends  is  a  circular  crease  or  groove,  for  tying  a 
thread :  it  is  round,  two  inches  and  a  half  in  length,  one  inch 
in  diameter  at  the  centre,  and  half  an  inch  at  each  end.  It  is 
composed  of  small  pieces  of  native  copper  pounded  together ; 
and  in  the  cracks  between  the  pieces  are  stuck  several  pieces 
of  silver,  one  nearly  the  size  of  a  half-dime.  A  piece  of  red 
ochre  or  paint,  and  a  piece  of  iron  ore  [hematite]  which  had  the 
appearance  of  having  been  partially  vitrified  [polished .?],  were 
also  found. 

"  The  body  of  the  person  here  buried  was  laid  upon  the 
surface  of  the  ground,  with  his  face  upwards,  and  his  feet 
pointing  to  the  south-west.  From  the  appearance  of  several 
pieces  of  charcoal  and  bits  of  partially  burned  fossil  coal,  and 
the  black  color  of  the  earth,  it  would  seem  that  the  funeral 
obsequies  had  been  celebrated  by  fire ;  and  while  the  ashes 
were  yet  hot  and  smoking,  a  circle  of  these  flat  stones  had  been 
laid  around  and  over  the  body.  The  circular  covering  was 
about  eight  feet  in  diameter ;  and  the  stones  yet  look  black,  as 
if  stained  by  fire  and  smoke.  This  circle  of  stones  seems  to 
have  been  the  nucleus  over  which  the  mound  was  formed,  as 
immediately  over  them  is  heaped  the  common  earth  of  the 
adjacent  plain.  At  the  time  of  opening  it,  the  height  was  6 
feetj  and  diameter  between  30  and  40.  It  has  every  appear 
ance  of  being  as  old  as  any  in  the  neighborhood,  and  was,  at 
the  first  settlement  of  Marietta,  covered  with  large  trees.  It 
seems  to  have  been  made  for  this  single  personage,  as  the  re 
mains  of  one  skeleton  only  were  discovered.  The  bones  were 
much  decayed,  and  many  of  them  crumbled  to  dust  on  exposure 
to  the  air." 

Engravings  of  the  silver-plated  discs  and  also  of  the  embossed 
silver  plate,  supposed  by  Dr.  Hildreth  to  have  been  a  sword 
ornament,  are  herewith  presented.  These  articles  have  been 
critically  examined,  and  it  is  beyond  doubt  that  the  copper 


BY    THE    ABORIGINES. 


Fio.  66. 

"  bosses  "  are  absolutely  plated,  not  simply  overlaid,  with  silver. 
Between  the  copper  and  the  silver  exists  a  connection,  such  as, 
it  seems  to  me,  could  only  be  produced  by  heat ;  and  if  it  is 
admitted  that  these  are  genuine  remains  of  the  mound-> 
builders,  it  must,  at  the  same  time,  be  admitted  that  they 
possessed  the  difficult  art  of  plating  one  metal  upon  another. 
There  is  but  one  alternative,  viz.,  that  they  had  occasional  or 
constant  intercourse  with  a  people  advanced  in  the  arts,  from 
whom  these  articles  were  obtained.  Again,  if  Dr.  Hildreth  is 
not  mistaken,  oxydized  iron,  or  steel,  was  also  discovered  in 
connection  with  the  above  remains  ;  from  which  also  follows,  as  a 
necessity  upon  the  previous  assumption,  the  extraordinary  con 
clusion  that  the  mound-builders  were  acquainted  with  the  use 
of  iron — the  conclusion  being,  of  course,  subject  to  the  improba 
ble  alternative  already  mentioned. 

Leading,  therefore,  as  they  do,  to  such  extraordinary  con 
clusions,  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  every  fact  and 
circumstance  connected  with  these  remains  should  be  narrowly 
examined.  If  there  is  a  reasonable  way  of  accounting  for  their 
presence,  under  the  circumstances  above  described,  without 
involving  us  in  these  conclusions,  unsustained  as  they  are  by 
collateral  facts,  we  are  justified  upon  every  recognized  rule  of 

13 


r 


290  USE    OF    COPPER    AND    SILVER 

evidence  in  adopting  it  as  the  nearest  approximation  to  the 
truth. 

The  existing  tribes  of  Indians,  it  has  been  demonstrated, 
recently  and  remotely,  often  buried  in  the  mounds,  placing  the 
arms  and  ornaments,  in  short,  whatever  was  valued  by  the 
possessor  while  living,  in  the  grave  with  him  at  his  death.  It 
has  been  shown  that  in  some  instances  they  opened  the  mounds 
to  the  depth  of  six  or  seven  feet,  and  buried  at  or  below  their 
bases. — (Ancient  Monuments  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  pp.  146, 
147,  149.)  It  has  been  shown,  also,  that  partial  burial  by  fire 
was  occasionally  practised  by  them,  or  by  races  succeeding  the 
builders  of  the  mounds.  That  it  was  a  common  custom  among 
the  Indians  to  cover  their  dead  with  stones,  is  also  well  known. 
The  occurrence  of  these  remains  in  the  position  above  described, 
does  not,  therefore,  necessarily  establish  that  they  belonged  to 
the  race  of  the  mounds. 

The  French  as  early  as  in  the  seventeenth  century,  had  visited 
the  mouth  of  the  Muskingum,  as  is  shown  by  the  lead  tablet 
which  they  left  there  in  token  of  having  taken  possession  of  the 
country  in  behalf  of  their  nation.  A  notice  of  this  plate,  from 
the  pen  of  Governor  Clinton,  is  published  in  the  second  volume 
of  the  Archseologia  Americana.  Previous  to  this  date,  a  very 
general  intercourse  had  sprung  up  between  the  Europeans  on 
the  Atlantic  coast,  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  Lakes,  and  the 
Indians  to  the  westward  of  the  Alleghanies,  in  the  valley  of  the 
Ohio  and  its  tributaries.  Nothing  is,  therefore,  more  likely  than 
that  the  arms  and  the  general  martial  equipments  of  the 
European  adventurers  were  occasionally  obtained  by  the  In 
dians,  either  as  presents  for  purposes  of  conciliation,  by  pur 
chase,  or  from  the  bodies  of  the  slain  in  their  frequent  encounters 
with  the  whites.  By  whatever  means  they  came  into  their 
hands,  it  is  certain  they  would  be  highly  prized  by  the  pos 
sessor,  and  deposited  with  him  at  his  death. 

The  discs,  described  in  the  extract,  and  which,  it  should  be 


BY    THE    ABORIGINES 


291 


remarked,  are  very  different  in  style  and  workmanship  from 
the  rude  articles  elsewhere  obtained  from  the  mounds,  are  al 
most  identical  in  shape  with  the  plated  ornaments  which  we 
observe  upon  belts  and  military  accoutrements  of  the  present 
day.  The  conjectures  of  Dr.  Hildreth  respecting  both  these 
and  the  embossed  silver  plate  are  probably  not  far  from  correct, 
and  are  measurably  sustained  by  the  oxyde  of  iron  found  with 
them.  It  seems,  however,  somewhat  remarkable  that  no  more 
distinct  traces  of  the  sword  blade,  if  such  there  was,  accom 
panying  these  relics,  were  observed  ;  if,  as  it  is  announced, 
they  were  deposited  by  the  Indians,  after  the  commencement 
of  European  intercourse, 

Any  conclusion  we  may  make,  respecting  these  relics,  hypo- 
thetically  or  otherwise,  is  beset  with  difficulties,  and  all  that 
is  claimed  for  the  hypothesis  here  indicated  is,  that  it  is 
less  unreasonable  than  any  other.  If  the  circumstances  under 
which  the  relics  were  found  do  not  sustain,  they  certainly  do 
not  necessarily  invalidate  it.  It  is,  moreover,  directly  sup 
ported  by  the  circumstance  that  other  remains  of  analogous 
character  and  of  undoubted  European  origin  have  been  dis 
covered  in  mounds  and  elsewhere,  in  the  same  vicinity.  Among 
these  may  be  mentioned  a  silver-plated  frontlet  of  a  military 
cap,  silver  cups,  gilded  on  the  interior,  etc. 


FIG.  67. 


Among  the  ornaments  taken  from  mound  No.  21,  in  "  Mound 
City" — (Ancient  Monuments  of  the  Mississippi  Valley,  Plate 
XIX.)  were  several  star-shaped  ornaments,  of  one  of  which  an 


292 


USE    OF    COPPER    AND    SILVER,   ETC 


engraving  is  given  on  the  preceding  page,  Fig.  67.  It  seems  to 
have  been  made  of  shells,  over  which  thin  slips  of  copper,  and 
afterward  slips  of  silver  were  closely  wrapped,  so  as  to  resemble 
plating. 


Fio.  68.     Copper  Beads  from  the  Mounds. 


SUPPLEMENT, 

ON 

THE  ANCIENT  MONUMENTS 

OF    THE 

MISSISSIPPI   VALLEY. 


GENERAL   OBSERVATIONS;    INCLOSURES    FOR    DEFENCE;    SA 
CRED  INCLOSURES ;    MOUNDS   OF   SEPULTURE ;    OF  SAC 
RIFICE,  ETC.,  ETC.;  IMPLEMENTS;  ORNAMENTS; 
SCULPTURES,  ETC.,   ETC. 


VARIOUS  references  have  been  made,  in  the  preceding  pages, 
to  the  Ancient  Monuments,  and  the  great  system  of  Earth 
works  of  the  Mississippi  valley,  of  which  it  has  hitherto  been 
supposed  the  aboriginal  monuments  of  Western  New  York 
constituted  a  part.  It  will  not,  therefore,  be  uninteresting, 
nor  inappropriate,  to  present  here  a  brief  outline  of  the  cha 
racter  of  the  former  remains,  with  the  single  observation  that 
those  who  may  desire  further  information  respecting  them  will 
find  it  in  the  first  volume  of  the  "  Smithsonian  Contribution  to 
Knowledge,"  entitled  "  Ancient  Monuments  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley." 

These  monuments  consist,  for  the  most  part,  of  elevations 
and  embankments  of  earth  and  stone,  erected  with  great  labor 
and  manifest  design.  In  connection  with  these,  more  or  less 
intimate,  are  found  various  minor  relics  of  art,  consisting  of 
ornaments  and  implements  of  many  kinds,  some  of  them  com 
posed  of  metal,  but  most  of  stone.  They  spread  over  a  vast 
extent  of  country.  They  are  found  on  the  Alleghany,  in  the 
western  part  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  on  the  east ;  and 
extend  thence  westwardly  along  the  southern  shore  of  Lake 


294  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

Erie,  and  through  Michigan  and  Wisconsin  to  Iowa  and  the 
Nebraska  territory,  on  the  west.*  We  have  no  record  of  their 
occurrence  above  the  lakes,  nor  higher  than  the  falls  of  the 
Mississippi.  Carver  mentions  some  on  the  shores  of  Lake 
Pepin ;  and  Lewis  and  Clarke  saw  them  on  the  Missouri  river, 
1000  miles  above  its  junction  with  the  Mississippi.  They  are 
found  all  over  the  intermediate  country,  and  along  the  valley 
of  the  Mississippi  to  the  Gulf  from  Texas  to  Florida,  and 
extend,  in  diminished  numbers,  into  South  Carolina.  They 
occur  in  great  numbers  in  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Wisconsin, 
Missouri,  Arkansas,  Kentucky,  Tennessee,  Louisiana,  Missis 
sippi,  Alabama,  Georgia,  Florida,  and  Texas.  They  are  found 
in  less  numbers,  in  the  western  portions  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
Virginia ;  as  well  as  in  Michigan,  Iowa,  and  in  North  and 
South  Carolina.  In  short,  they  occupy  the  entire  basin  of  the 
Mississippi  and  its  tributaries,  as  also  the  fertile  plains  along 
the  Gulf. 

It  is  not  to  be  understood  that  these  remains  are  dispersed 
equally  over  the  area  here  defined.  They  are  mainly  confined 
to  the  valleys  of  the  streams,  occupying  the  level,  fertile  ter 
races,  and  seldom  occurring  very  far  back  from  them.  - 

*  It  is  a  fact  not  generally  known,  that  there  is  an  abundance  of 
tumuli  or  mounds  in  the  Territory  of  Oregon.  We  are  not  informed, 
however,  that  there  are  any  inclosures  or  other  works  of  like  character 
with  those  usually  accompanying  the  mounds  of  the  Mississippi  valley, 
nor  whether  the  mounds  of  Oregon  are  generally  disseminated  over 
that  territory.  The  only  reference  we  have  to  them  is  contained  in  a 
paragraph  in  the  Narrative  of  the  United  States  Exploring  Expedition : 

"  We  soon  reached  the  Bute  Prairies,  which  are  extensive  and  covered 
with  tumuli  or  small  mounds,  at  regular  distances  asunder.  As  far  as  I 
can  learn,  there  is  no  tradition  among  the  natives  concerning  them. 
They  are  conical  mounds,  thirty  feet  in  diameter,  about  six  or  seven 
feet  above  the  level,  and  many  thousands  in  number.  Being  anxious  to 
ascertain  if  they  contained  any  relics,  I  subsequently  visited  these 
prairies,  and  opened  three  of  the  mounds,  but  found  nothing  in  them 
but  a  pavement  of  round  stones." — U.  S.  E.  E.,  vol.  iv.,  p.  313. 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY.  295 

Their  number  is  well  calculated  to  excite  surprise,  and  has 
been  adduced  in  support  of  the  hypothesis — which  has  not 
been  without  its  advocates — that  they  are  most,  if  not  all  of 
them,  natural  formations,  "the  results  of  diluvial  action," 
modified  perhaps,  in  a  few  instances,  but  never  erected  by  man. 
Of  course  no  such  hypothesis  was  ever  advanced  by  any  indi 
vidual  who  had  enjoyed  the  opportunity  of  examining  these 
remains  for  himself. 

Some  estimate  may  be  formed  of  their  great  abundance,  in 
certain  portions  of  the  country,  by  an  inspection  of  Map  No.  1, 
in  the  first  volume  of  the  "  Smithsonian  Contributions  to  Know 
ledge,"  which  exhibits  a  section  of  twelve  miles  of  the  Scioto 
valley.  It  will  be  observed  that  not  less  than  ten  large  groups 
of  earth-works  occur  within  the  space  designated,  besides  which 
there  is  a  large  number  of  mounds  and  lesser  monuments. 
Twenty-four  of  these  mounds  are  found  within  a  single  inclo- 
sure  three  miles  above  the  city  of  Chillicothe.  Two  large 
works  in  the  vicinity  of  this,  have  each  not  far  from  two  miles 
of  embankment,  and  inclose  little  less  than  one  hundred  acres. 
Nearly  one  hundred  inclosures  and  five  hundred  mounds  are 
found  in  Ross  county.  Ohio,  alone ;  and  the  ancient  works  of 
the  State  may  be  safely  estimated  at  ten  thousand  mounds, 
and  one  thousand  or  fifteen  hundred  inclosures.  of  all  sizes. 
Many  of  them  are,  of  course,  small,  but  cannot  be  omitted  in 
an  enumeration. 

Nor  is  their  magnitude  less  a  matter  of  surprise  than  their 
numbers.  Lines  of  embankment,  varying  in  height  from  five 
to  fifteen  feet,  and  inclosing  areas  of  from  one  to  fifty  acres, 
are  common  ;  while  inclosures  of  one  hundred  or  two  hundred 
acres  area  are  far  from  infrequent.  Occasional  works  are 
found,  embracing  not  less  than  five  or  six  hundred  acres.*  The 
magnitude  of  the  area  inclosed  is  not,  however,  always  an  index 

*  Lewis  and  Clarke  describe  one  on  the  Missouri  river  which  they 
estimated  to  contain  six  hundred  acres. 


290  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

of  the  amount  of  the  labor  expended  in  the  construction  of 
these  works,  or  of  the  length  of  the  embankment  raised.  A 
fortified  hill,  in  Highland  county,  Ohio,  (A.  M.  Plate  Y.)  has 
one  mile  and  five-eighths  of  heavy  embankment ;  yet  it  incloses 
an  area  of  only  about  forty  acres.  A  similar  work,  on  the 
Little  Miami  river,  in  Warren  county,  Ohio,  (A.  M.  Plate 
VII.)  has  upwards  of  four  miles  of  embankment,  yet  incloses  but 
little  upwards  of  one  hundred  acres.  The  group  of  works  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Scioto  river  at  Portsmouth  has  an  aggregate 
of  at  least  twenty  miles  of  embankment ;  yet  the  amount  of 
land  embraced  within  the  walls  does  not  exceed  two  hundred 
acres 

The  mounds  are  of  every  conceivable  dimension,  from  those 
of  but  a  few  feet  in  height  and  a  few  yards  in  diameter,  to 
those  which,  like  the  celebrated  one  at  the  mouth  of  Grave 
Creek,  in  Virginia,  (A.  M.  Fig.  56,)  measure  one  thousand 
feet  in  circumference  by  seventy  feet  in  height ;  or,  like  the 
truncated  pyramid  at  Cahokia,  in  Illinois,  (A.  M.  Fig.  60,)  rise 
to  the  altitude  of  nearly  one  hundred  feet,  and  measure  half  a 
mile  in  circumference  at  the  base,  with  a  level  summit  of  several 
acres  area.  Their  usual  dimensions  are,  however,  considerably 
less  than  in  the  examples  here  given.  The  larger  number  range 
from  six  to  thirty  feet  in  height,  by  forty  to  one  hundred  feet  base. 

These  constructions  are  composed  of  earth  or  stone,  taken  up 
on  the  spot,  or  brought  from  localities  more  or  less  remote ; 
though  a  combination  of  these  materials,  in  the  same  work,  is 
by  no  means  rare.  In  the  absence  of  ditches  interior  or 
exterior  to  the  embankments,  pits  or  dug  holes,  from  which  the 
earth  for  their  construction  was  taken,  are  generally  visible 
near  by.  These  are  sometimes  very  broad  and  deep,  and  occa 
sionally  quite  symmetrical  in  shape.  In  the  vicinity  of  large 
mounds,  such  excavations  are  also  common.* 

*  These  are  the  "  wells"  of  Mr.  Atwater  and  other  writers  on  Ameri 
can  Antiquities. 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY. 


297 


A  large,  perhaps  the  larger,  portion  of  these  works  are  regu 
lar  in  outline,  the  square  and  the  circle  predominating.  Some 
are  parallelograms,  some  ellipses,  others  polygons,  regular  and 
irregular.  The  regular  works  are  almost  invariably  erected  on 
level  river-terraces,  great  care  having  evidently  been  taken  to 
select  those  least  broken.  The  irregular  works  are  those  which 
partake  most  of  the  character  of  defences,  and  are  usually  made 
to  conform  to  the  nature  of  the  ground  upon  which  they  are 
situated — running  along  the  brows  of  hills,  or  cutting  off  the 
approaches  to  strong  natural  positions.  The  square  and  the 
circle  often  occur  in  combination,  frequently  communicating 
with  each  other  or  with  irregular  works,  directly  or  by  avenues 
consisting  of  parallel  lines  of  embankment.  Detached  paral 
lels  are  frequent.  The  mounds  are  usually  simple  cones  in 
form,  but  they  are  sometimes  truncated,  and  occasionally  ter 
raced,  with  graded  or  winding  ascents  to  their  summits.  Some 
are  elliptical,  others  pyriform,  and  others  squares  or  parallelo 
grams,  with  flanking  terraces.  Besides  these  are  others,  most 
common  in  the  extreme  north-west,  which  assume  the  forms  of 
animals  and  reptiles.  Another  variety  of  remains  are  the 
causeways  or  "  roads,"  and  the  graded  descents  to  rivers  and 
streams,  or  from  one  terrace  to  another. 

As  already  remarked,  these  remains  occur  mainly  in  the 
valleys  of  the  Western  rivers  and  streams.  The  alluvial  ter 
races,  or  "  river  bottoms,"  as  they  are  popularly  termed,  were 
the  favorite  sites  of  the  builders.  The  principal  monuments 
are  found  where  these  "  bottoms"  are  most  extended,  and  where 
the  soil  is  most  fertile  and  easy  of  cultivation.  At  the  junc 
tion  of  streams,  where  the  valleys  are  usually  broadest  and 
most  favorable  for  their  erection,  some  of  the  largest  and  most 
singular  remains  are  found.  The  works  at  Marietta,  at  the 
junction  of  the  Muskingum  with  the  Ohio ;  at  the  mouth  of 
Grave  Creek  ;  at  Portsmouth,  the  mouth  of  the  Scioto ;  and  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami,  are  instances  in  point.  Occa 
sional  works  are  found  on  the  hill-tops,  overlooking  the  valleys, 
13* 


298  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

or  at  a  little  distance  from  them ;  but  these  are  manifestly,  in 
most  instances,  works  of  defence  or  last  resort,  or  in  some  way 
connected  with  warlike  purposes.  And  it  is  worthy  of  remark, 
that  the  sites  selected  for  settlements,  towns,  and  cities,  by  the 
invading  Europeans,  are  often  those  which  were  the  especial 
favorites  of  the  mound-builders,  and  the  seats  of  their  heaviest 
population.  Marietta,  Newark,  Portsmouth,  Chillicothe,  Cir- 
cleville,  and  Cincinnati,  in  Ohio ;  Frankfort  in  Kentucky ;  and 
St.  Louis  in  Missouri,  may  be  mentioned  in  confirmation  of 
the  remark.  The  centres  of  population  are  now  where  they 
were  at  the  period  when  the  mysterious  race  of  the  mounds 
flourished.* 

The  monuments  throughout  the  entire  Mississippi  valley 
possess  certain  grand  points  of  resemblance,  going  to  establish 
a  common  origin.  Whether  they  were  contemporaneous  in 
their  erection,  or  constructed  by  a  people  slowly  migrating  from 
one  portion  of  the  valley  to  the  other,  under  the  pressure  of 
hostile  neighbors  or  the  inducements  of  a  more  genial  climate, 
are  questions  open  to  inquiry,  and  which  proper  investigations 
may  satisfactorily  answer.  It  is  quite  certain,  however,  and 
this  fact  is  of  importance  in  the  consideration  of  these  ques 
tions,  that  the  mounds  increase  in  magnitude  and  regularity, 
if  not  in  numbers,  as  we  go  down  the  Mississippi  toward  the 
Gulf.  And  although  between  the  monuments  of  the  North 
and  the  South  there  is  a  marked  contrast,  in  many  respects  ; 
yet  it  would  be  impossible  to  tell,  so  gradually  do  they  merge 
into  each  other,  where  one  series  terminates  and  the  other  be 
gins.  It  is  not  impossible  that  future  investigations  may  show 
an  imperceptible  transition  from  the  more  regular  earth-struc- 

*  "  The  most  dense  ancient  population  existed  in  precisely  the  places 
where  the  most  crowded  future  population  will  exist  in  ages  to  come. 
The  appearance  of  a  series  of  mounds  generally  indicates  the  contiguity 
of  rich  and  level  lands,  easy  communication,  fish,  game,  and  the  most 
favorable  adjacent  positions." — Flint. 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY. 


299 


tures  of  the  lower  Mississippi,  to  the  symmetrical  and  imposing 
stone  teocalli  of  Mexico. 

The  remains  of  which  we  are  speaking  may  be  divided  into 
two  grand  classes,  viz.,  INCLOSURES,  bounded  by  parapets,  cir- 
cumvallations  or  walls,  and  simple  Tumuli  or  MOUNDS.*  They 
constitute  together  a  single  system  of  works ;  but,  for  purposes 
which  will  satisfactorily  appear,  it  is  preferred  to  classify  them 
as  above.  These  grand  classes  resolve  themselves  into  other 
subordinate  divisions ;  Indosures  for  Defence,  Sacred  and  Miscel 
laneous  Inclosures  ;  Mounds  of  Sacrifice,  Temple  Mounds,  Mounds 
of  Sepulture,  etc. 


INCLOSURES. 


The  Inclosures,  or,  as  they  are  familiarly  known  throughout 
the  West,  "  Forts,"  constitute  a  very  important  and  interesting 
class  of  remains.  Their  dimensions,  and  the  popular  opinion 
as  to  their  purposes,  attract  to  them  more  particularly  the  at 
tention  of  observers.  As  a  consequence,  most  that  has  been 
written  upon  our  antiquities  relates  to  them.  Quite  a  number 
have  been  surveyed  and  described  by  different  individuals,  at 
different  times ;  but  no  systematic  examination  of  a  sufficient 
number  to  justify  any  general  conclusion  as  to  their  origin  and 
purposes  has  hitherto  been  made.  Accordingly  we  have  had 
presented  as  many  different  conclusions  as  there  have  been  in 
dividual  explorers ;  one  maintaining  that  all  the  inclosures 
were  intended  for  defence,  while  another  persists  that  none 
could  possibly  have  been  designed  for  any  such  purpose.  A 
sufficiently  extended  investigation  would  have  shown,  however, 
that  while  certain  works  possess  features  demonstrating  incon- 
testably  a  warlike  origin,  others  were  connected  with  the  super 
stitions  of  the  builders,  or  designed  for  purposes  not  readily  ap 
parent  in  our  present  state  of  knowledge  concerning  them. 

*  I  use  the  term  mound,  for  obvious  reasons,  in  a  technical  sense,  as 
synonymous  with  tumulus  or  barrow,  and  as  distinct  from  embankment, 
rampart,  etc. 


300  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

It  has  already  been  remarked  that  the  square  and  the  circle, 
separate  or  in  combination,  were  favorite  figures  with  the  mound- 
builders  ;  and  a  large  proportion  of  their  works  in  the  Scioto 
valley  and  in  Ohio  are  of  these  forms.  Most  of  the  circular 
works  are  small,  varying  from  250  to  300  feet  in  diameter, 
while  others  are  a  mile  or  more  in  circuit.  Some  stand  isolated, 
but  most  in  connection  with  one  or  more  mounds,  of  greater  or 
less  dimensions,  or  in  connection  with  other  more  complicated 
works.  Wherever  the  circles  occur,  if  there  be  a  fosse  or  ditch, 
it  is  almost  invariably  interior  to  the  parapet.  Instances  are 
frequent  where  no  ditch  is  discernible,  and  where  it  is  evident 
that  the  earth  composing  the  parapet  was  brought  from  a  dis 
tance  or  taken  up  evenly  from  the  surface.  In  the  square  or 
irregular  works,  if  there  be  a  fosse  at  all,  it  is  exterior  to  the 
embankment,  except  in  the  case  of  fortified  hills,  when  the 
earth,  for  the  best  of  reasons,  is  usually  thrown  from  the  interior. 
These  facts  are  not  without  their  importance  in  determining  the 
character  and  purpose  of  these  remains.  Another  fact  bearing 
directly  upon  the  degree  of  knowledge  possessed  by  the  builders 
is,  that  many  if  not  most  of  the  circular  works  are  perfect  circles, 
and  that  many  of  the  rectangular  works  are  accurate  squares. 
This  fact  has  been  demonstrated,  in  numerous  instances,  by 
careful  admeasurements,  and  has  been  remarked  in  cases  where 
the  works  embrace  an  area  of  many  acres,  and  where  the  em 
bankments  or  circumvallations  are  a  mile  or  upwards  in  extent. 

WORKS    OF   DEFENCE. 

Those  works,  which  are  incontestably  defensive,  usually  occupy 
strong  natural  positions.  To  understand  fully  their  character 
and  capacity  for  the  purpose  assigned  to  them,  it  is  necessary 
to  notice  briefly  the  predominant  features  of  the  country  in 
which  they  occur. 

The  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  from  the  base  of  the  Alleghanies 
to  the  ranges  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  is  a  vast  sedimentary 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY. 


301 


basin,  and  owes  its  general  aspect  to  the  powerful  action  of 
water.  Its  rivers  have  worn  their  valleys  deep  in  a  vast  origi 
nal  plain,  leaving  in  their  gradual  subsidence  broad  terraces, 
marking  the  different  eras  of  their  history.  The  edges  of  the 
table  lands,  bordering  on  the  valleys,  are  cut  by  a  thousand 
ravines,  presenting  bluff  headlands  and  high  hills  with  level 
summits,  sometimes  connected  by  narrow  isthmuses  with  the 
original  table,  and  sometimes  entirely  detached.  The  sides  of 
these  elevations  are  always  steep  and  difficult  of  ascent,  in  some 
cases  precipitous  and  absolutely  inaccessible.  The  natural 
strength  of  such  positions,  and  their  susceptibility  of  defence, 
would  certainly  suggest  them  as  the  citadels  of  a  rude  people, 
having  hostile  neighbors  or  pressed  by  foreign  invaders.  Accord 
ingly,  we  are  not  surprised  at  often  finding  these  heights  occu 
pied  by  strong  and  complicated  works,  the  design  of  which  is 
indicated  no  less  by  their  position  than  by  their  peculiarities  of 
construction.  In  such  cases  it  is  always  to  be  observed  that 
great  care  has  been  exercised  in  their  selection,  and  that  they 
possess  peculiar  strength  and  adaptation  for  the  purposes  to 
which  they  were  applied.  While  rugged  and  steep  on  most 
sides,  they  have  one  or  more  points  of  comparatively  easy  ap 
proach,  in  the  protection  of  which  the  utmost  skill  of  the  builders 
has  been  expended.  They  are  guarded  by  double  overlapping 
walls,  or  a  series  of  them,  having  sometimes  an  accompanying 
mound,  designed  perhaps  as  a  "  look-out,"  and  corresponding  to 
the  barbican  in  the  British  system  of  defence,  of  the  middle 
ages.  The  usual  defence  is  a  simple  parapet  thrown  up  along 
and  a  little  below  the  brow  of  the  hill,  varying  in  height  and 
solidity  as  the  declivity  is  more  or  less  steep  and  difficult  of 
access. 

Other  defensive  works  occupy  the  peninsulas  formed  by  the 
streams,  or  cut  off  the  bluff  points  formed  by  their  junction 
with  each  other.  In  such  cases  a  fosse  and  wall  are  carried 
across  the  isthmus,  or  diagonally  from  the  bank  of  one  stream 
to  that  of  the  other.  In  certain  instances  the  wall  is  double, 


302  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

and  extends  along  the  bank  of  the  stream  for  some  distance 
inwardly,  as  if  designed  to  prevent  an  enemy  from  turning  the 
flank  of 'the  defence. 

To  understand  clearly  the  nature  of  the  works  last  men 
tioned,  it  should  be  remembered  that  the  banks  of  the  Western 
rivers  are  always  steep,  and,  where  these  works  are  located, 
invariably  high ;  the  banks  of  the  various  terraces  are  also 
steep,  ranging  from  ten  to  thirty  and  more  feet  in  height.  The 
rivers  are  constantly  shifting  their  channels,  and  frequently  cut 
their  way  through  all  the  intermediate  up  to  the  earliest 
formed  or  highest  terrace,  presenting  bold  banks,  inaccessibly 
steep,  and  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  feet  high.  At  such  points, 
from  which  the  river  has  in  some  instances  receded  to  the 
distance  of  half  a  mile  or  more,  works  of  this  description  are 
oftenest  found. 

And  it  is  a  fact  of  much  importance  and  worthy  of  special 
note,  that  within  the  scope  of  a  pretty  extended  observation,  no 
work  of  any  kind  has  been  found  occupying  the  latest  formed 
terrace.*  This  terrace  alone,  except  at  periods  of  extraordi 
nary  freshets,  is  subject  to  overflow.  The  formation  of  each 
terrace  constitutes  a  sort  of  semi-geological  era  in  the  history 
of  the  valley  ;  and  the  fact  that  none  of  the  works  occur  upon 
the  lowest  or  latest  formed  of  these,  while  they  are  found 
indiscriminately  upon  all  the  others,  bears  directly  upon  the 
question  of  their  antiquity. 

Many  of  these  structures  are  of  vast  dimensions  ;  indeed,  the 
works  of  greatest  magnitude  are  those  which  are  most  clearly 
of  defensive  origin.  A  fortified  hill  in  the  vicinity  of  Chilli- 
cothe  embraces  one  hundred  and  forty  acres  within  its  walls ; 
and  another  military  work — most  probably  a  fortified  village — 

*  This  observation  is  confirmed  by  all  who  have  given  attention  to 
the  subject  in  the  Ohio  and  Upper  Mississippi  valleys.  Along  the  Gulf 
and  at  points  on  the  Lower  Mississippi,  where  the  entire  country  is  low 
and  subject  to  inundation,  some  of  the  ancient  monuments  are  invaded 
by  the  water. 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY.  303 

on  the  banks  of  the  North  Fork  of  Paint  Creek,  five  miles  from 
Chillicothe,  has  an  area  of  one  hundred  and  twenty-seven 
acres.  To  appreciate  fully  the  judgment  displayed  in  the 
choice  of  position,  and  the  skill  exhibited  in  defence,  a  minute 
examination  of  a  series  of  these  structures  is  necessary.  No 
one  can  rise  from  such  an  examination  without  being  convinced 
that  the  race  by  whom  they  were  erected  possessed  no  incon 
siderable  knowledge  of  the  science  of  defence — a  degree  of 
knowledge  much  superior  to  that  known  to  have  been  possessed 
by  the  North  American  tribes  previous  to  the  discovery  by 
Columbus,  or  indeed,  subsequent  to  that  event.  Their  number 
and  magnitude  must  also  impress  the  inquirer  with  enlarged 
notions  of  the  power  of  the  people  commanding  the  means  for 
their  construction,  and  whose  numbers  required  such  extensive 
works  for  their  protection.  It  is  not  impossible  that  they  were, 
to  a  certain  extent,  designed  to  embrace  cultivated  fields,  so  as 
to  furnish  the  means  of  sustenance  to  their  defenders  in  event 
of  a  protracted  siege.  There  is  no  other  foundation,  however, 
for  this  suggestion  than  that  furnished  by  the  size  of  some  of 
these  defensive  inclosures.  The  population  finding  shelter 
within  their  walls  must  have  been  exceedingly  large,  if  their 
dimensions  may  be  taken  as  the  basis  of  a  calculation. 

The  vast  amount  of  labor  necessary  to  the  erection  of  most 
of  these  works  precludes  the  notion  that  they  were  hastily  con 
structed  to  check  a  single  or  unexpected  invasion.  On  the 
contrary  there  seems  to  have  existed  a  system  of  defences,  ex 
tending  from  the  mouth  of  the  Alleghany  diagonally  across 
the  country,  through  central  Ohio  to  the  Wabash.  Within 
this  range,  those  works  which  ar§  regarded  as  defensive  are 
largest  and  most  numerous.  If  an  inference  may  be  drawn 
from  this  fact,  it  is  that  the  pressure  of  hostilities  was  from  the 
north-east ;  or  that,  if  the  tide  of  migration  flowed  from  the 
south,  it  received  its  final  check  upon  this  line.  On  the  other 
hypothesis,  thrat  in  this  region  originated  a  semi-civilization 
which  subsequently  went  southward,  constantly  developing 


304  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

itself  in  its  progress,  until  it  attained  its  height  in  Mexico,  we 
may  suppose  from  this  direction  came  the  hostile  savage  hordes, 
before  whose  incessant  attacks  the  less  warlike  mound-builders 
gradually  receded,  or  beneath  whose  exterminating  cruelty 
they  entirely  disappeared — leaving  these  monuments  alone  to 
attest  their  existence,  and  the  extraordinary  skill  with  which 
they  defended  their  altars  and  their  homes.  Upon  either 
assumption  it  is  clear  that  the  contest  was  a  protracted  one, 
and  that  the  race  of  the  mounds  were  for  a  long  period  con 
stantly  exposed  to  attack.  This  conclusion  finds  its  support  in 
the  fact  that,  in  the  vicinity  of  those  localities,  where,  from  the 
amount  of  remains,  it  appears  the  ancient  population  was  most 
dense,  we  almost  invariably  find  one  or  more  works  of  a  defen 
sive  character,  furnishing  ready  places  of  resort  in  times  of 
danger.  We  may  supppose  that  a  state  of  things  existed 
somewhat  analogous  to  that  which  attended  the  advance  of  our 
pioneer  population,  when  every  settlement  had  its  little  fort,  to 
which  the  settlers  flocked  in  case  of  alarm  or  attack. 

It  may  be  suggested  that  there  existed  among  the  mound- 
builders  a  state  of  society  something  like  that  which  prevailed 
among  the  Indians;  that  each  tribe  had  its  separate  seat, 
maintaining  an  almost  constant  warfare  against  its  neighbors, 
and,  as  a  consequence,  possessing  its  own  "  castle,"  as  a  place 
of  final  resort  when  invaded  by  a  powerful  foe.  Apart  from 
the  fact,  however,  that  the  Indians  were  hunters,  averse  to 
labor,  and  not  known  to  have  constructed  any  works  ap 
proaching,  in  skilfulness  of  design  or  in  magnitude,  those  under 
notice,  there  is  almost  positive  evidence  that  the  mound- 
builders  were  an  agricultural  people,  considerably  advanced 
in  the  arts,  and  possessing  great  uniformity,  throughout  the 
whole  territory  which  they  occupied,  in  manners,  habits,  and 
religion, — a  uniformity  sufficiently  marked  to  identify  them 
as  a  single  people,  having  a  common  origin,  common  modes 
of  life,  and,  as  a  consequence,  common  sympathies,  if  not  a 
common  and  consolidated  government, 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY.  305 


SACRED    WORKS 


The  structure,  no  less  than  the  form  and  position,  of  a  large 
number  of  the  earth-works  of  the  West,  and  more  particular 
ly  of  the  Scioto  valley,  render  it  clear  that  they  were  erected 
for  other  than  defensive  purposes.*  The  small  dimensions 
of  most  of  the  circles,  the  occurrence  of  the  ditch  interior  to 
the  embankment,  and  the  fact  that  many  of  them  are  com 
pletely  commanded  by  adjacent  heights,  may  be  mentioned  as 
sustaining  this  conclusion.  We  must  seek,  therefore,  in  the 
connection  in  which  these  works  are  found,  and  in  the  char 
acter  and  contents  of  the  mounds,  if  such  there  be,  within 
their  walls  for  the  secret  of  their  origin.  And  it  may  be 
observed,  that  it  is  here  we  find  evidence  still  more  satisfac 
tory  and  conclusive  than  furnished  by  the  small  dimensions 
of  these  works,  or  the  position  of  the  ditch,  that  they  were 
not  intended  for  defence.  Thus,  when  we  find  inclosures 
containing  a  number  of  mounds,  all  of  which  it  is  capable  of 
demonstration  were  religious  in  their  purposes,  or  in  some 
way  connected  with  the  superstitions  of  the  people  who  built 
them,  the  conclusion  is  irresistible  that  the  inclosure  itself 
was  also  deemed  sacred,  and  thus  set  apart  as  u  tabooed"  or 
consecrated  ground — especially  where  it  is  obvious,  at  first 
glance,  that  it  possesses  none  of  the  requisites  of  a  military 
work.  But  it  is  not  to  be  concluded  that  those  inclosures 


*  It  seems  incredible  that  many  well-informed  men,  who  have  exam 
ined  some  of  the  small  circular  and  elliptical  works  of  the  West,  should 
have  fallen  into  the  palpable  error  of  supposing  them  defensive  in  their 
origin.  Major  Long  (Second  Exp.  vol.  i.,  p.  54)  describes  some  petty 
works  in  the  vicinity  of  Piqua,  Ohio,  consisting  of  a  number  of  small 
circles,  as  of  undoubted  warlike  origin,  applying  to  them  the  terms  of 
military  technology.  One  of  these  circles,  which  he  regards  as  a  "  re 
doubt"  is  43  feet  in  diameter,  and  has  its  ditch  interior  to  the  wall !  A 
famous  defence,  truly,  contrasted  with  the  fortified  hills  already  de 
scribed  ! 


306  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

alone,  which  contain  mounds  of  the  description  here  named, 
were  designed  for  sacred  purposes.  We  have  reason  to  be 
lieve  that  the  religious  system  of  the  mound-builders,  like 
that  of  the  Mexicans,  exercised  among  them  a  great,  if  not  a 
controlling  influence.  Their  government  may  have  been,  for 
aught  we  know,  a  government  of  the  priesthood ;  one  in 
which  the  priestly  and  civil  functions  were  jointly  exercised, 
and  one  sufficiently  powerful  to  have  secured  in  the  Missis 
sippi  valley,  as  it  did  in  Mexico,  the  erection  of  many  of 
those  vast  monuments,  which  for  ages  will  continue  to  chal 
lenge  the  wonder  of  men.  There  may  have  been  certain 
superstitious  ceremonies,  having  no  connection  with  the  pur 
poses  of  the  mounds,  carried  on  in  inclosures  specially  dedi 
cated  to  them.  There  are  several  minor  inclosures  within 
the  great  defensive  work  already  referred  to,  on  the  banks  of 
the  North  Fork  of  Paint  Creek,  (A.  M.  Plate  X..)  the  pur 
poses  of  which  would  scarcely  admit  of  doubt,  even  though 
the  sacred  mounds  which  they  embrace  were  wanting.  It  is 
a  conclusion  which  every  day's  investigation  and  observation 
has  tended  to  confirm,  that  most,  perhaps  all  the  earth-works, 
not  manifestly  defensive  in  their  character,  were  in  some  way 
connected  with  the  superstitious  rites  of  the  builders,  though 
in  what  manner,  it  is,  and  perhaps  ever  will  be,  impossible 
satisfactorily  to  determine. 

What  dim  light  analogy  sheds  upon  this  point  goes  to  sus 
tain  this  conclusion.  The  British  Islands  only  afford  works 
with  which  any  comparison  can  safely  be  instituted.  The 
"  ring  forts"  of  the  ancient  Celts  are  nearly  identical  in  form 
and  structure  with  a  large  class  of  remains  in  our  own  coun 
try  ;  and  these  are  regarded  by  all  well-informed  British  an 
tiquaries  as  strictly  religious  in  their  origin,  or  connected 
with  the  rites  of  the  ancient  Druidical  system.  This  conclu 
sion  is  not  entirely  speculative,  but  rests  in  a  great  degree 
upon  traditional  and  historical  facts.  The  late  Sir  R.  C. 
Hoare,  author  of  "  Ancient  Wiltshire"  (the  most  scientific  as 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY.  307 

also  the  most  splendid  antiquarian  work  ever  issued  from  the 
British  press),  regarded  the  occurrence  of  the  fosse,  interior 
to  the  wall,  in  a  portion  of  the  British  works,  as  precluding 
the  supposition  of  a  military,  and  establishing  their  religious 
origin. 

The  character  of  these  works  has  already  been  briefly  indi 
cated.  They  are  generally  regular  in  their  structure,  and 
occupy  the  broad  and  level  river-bottoms,  seldom  occurring 
upon  the  table-lands,  or  where  the  surface  is  undulating  or 
broken.  Their  usual  form  is  that  of  the  square  or  the  circle ; 
sometimes  they  are  slightly  elliptical.  Occasionally  we  find 
them  isolated,  but  oftenest  in  groups.  The  greater  number 
of  the  circles  are  of  small  size,  having  a  nearly  uniform  di 
ameter  of  two  hundred  and  fifty  or  three  hundred  feet,  with 
the  ditch  invariably  interior  to  the  wall.  These  have  always 
a  single  gateway,  opening  oftenest  toward  the  east,  but  by  no 
means  observing  a  fixed  rule  in  this  respect.  It  frequently 
happens  that  they  have  one  or  more  small  mounds  interior  to 
their  walls,  of  the  class  denominated  sacrificial.  These  small 
circles  occasionally  occur  within  larger  works  of  a  defensive 
character.  Apart  from  these,  numerous  little  circles,  from 
thirty  to  fifty  feet  in  diameter,  are  observed  in  the  vicinity 
of  large  works,  consisting  of  a  very  light  embankment  of 
earth,  and  destitute  of  a  gateway  or  entrance.  It  has  been 
suggested  that  these  are  the  remains  of  the  ancient  lodges  or 
of  other  buildings.  The  accounts  which  we  have  of  the 
traces  left  of  the  huts  of  the  Mandans  and  other  Indian 
tribes,  at  their  deserted  villages,  render  this  supposition  not 
improbable.  It  sometimes  happens  that  we  find  small  circles 
around  the  bases  of  large  mounds ;  these  probably  cannot  be 
regarded  as  of  the  same  character  with  that  numerous  class 
already  described. 

The  larger  circles  are  oftenest  found  in  combination  with 
rectangular  works,  connecting  with  them  directly  or  by  avenues. 
Some  of  these  are  of  large  size,  embracing  fifty  or  more  acres. 


308  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

They  seldom  have  a  ditch  ;  but  whenever  it  occurs,  it  is  interior 
to  the  wall.  As  in  the  case  of  the  squares  or  rectangular 
works  with  which  they  are  attached,  (and  which,  it  is  believed, 
never  have  ditches,  exterior  or  interior,)  the  walls  are  usually 
composed  of  earth  taken  up  evenly  from  the  surface,  or  from 
large  pits  in  the  neighborhood.  Evident  care  seems  in  all 
cases  to  have  been  exercised,  in  procuring  the  material,  to  pre 
serve  the  surface  of  the  adjacent  plain  smooth,  and  as  far  as 
possible  unbroken.  This  fact  is  in  itself  almost  conclusive 
against  the  supposition  of  a  defensive  design,  especially  as  we 
have  abundant  evidence  that  the  mound-builders  understood 
perfectly  the  value  of  the  external  fosse  in  their  works  of  de 
fence.  The  walls  of  these  works  are,  for  the  most  part,  com 
paratively  slight,  varying  from  three  to  seven  feet  in  height. 
Sometimes  they  are  quite  imposing ;  as  in  the  case  of  the  great 
circle  at  Newark,  Licking  county.  Ohio,  where,  at  the  entrance, 
the  wall  from  the  bottom  of  the  ditch  has  a  vertical  height  of 
not  far  from  thirty  feet.  The  square  or  rectangular  works  at 
tending  these  large  circles  are  of  various  dimensions.  It  has 
been  observed,  however,  that  certain  groups  are  marked  by  a 
great  uniformity  of  size.  Five  or  six  of  these  now  occur  to  the 
writer,  placed  at  long  distances  asunder,  which  are  exact  squares, 
each  measuring  one  thousand  and  eighty  feet  side — a  coinci 
dence  which  could  not  possibly  be  accidental,  and  which  must 
possess  some  significance.  It  certainly  establishes  the  existence 
of  some  standard  of  measurement  among  the  ancient  people, 
if  not  the  possession  of  some  means  of  determining  angles. 
The  rectangular  works  have  almost  invariably  gateways  at  the 
angles  and  midway  on  each  side,  each  of  which  is  covered  by  a 
small  interior  mound  or  elevation.  In  some  of  the  larger 
structures  the  openings  are  more  numerous.  A  few  of  this  de 
scription  of  remains  have  been  discovered  which  are  octagonal. 
One  of  large  size,  in  the  vicinity  of  Chillicothe,  has  the  alter 
nate  angles  coincident  with  each  other,  and  the  sides  equal. 
Another  description  of  works,  probably  akin  to  those  here 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY. 

described,  are  the  parallels,  consisting  of  light  embankments, 
seven  or  eight  hundred  feet  in  length  and  sixty  or  eighty 
apart. 

Indeed,  so  various  are  these  works,  and  so  numerous  their 
combinations,  that  it  is  impossible  to  convey  any  accurate  con 
ception  of  them,  without  entering  into  a  minuteness  of  detail 
and  an  extent  of  illustration  utterly  beyond  the  limits  of  this 
paper.  They  are  invested  with  singular  interest,  alike  from 
their  peculiar  form  and  the  character  and  contents  of  the 
mounds  which  they  inclose.  If  we  are  right  in  the  assumption 
that  they  are  of  sacred  origin,  and  were  the  temples  and  con 
secrated  grounds  of  the  ancient  people,  we  can,  from  their  num 
ber  and  extent,  form  some  estimate  of  the  devotional  fervor  or 
superstitious  zeal  which  induced  their  erection,  and  the  pre 
dominance  of  the  religious  sentiment  among  their  builders. 

The  magnitude  of  some  of  these  structures  is,  perhaps,  the 
strongest  objection  that  can  be  urged  against  the  position  here 
assigned  them.  It  is  difficult  to  comprehend  the  existence  of 
religious  works,  extending,  with  their  attendant  avenues,  like 
those  near  Newark  in  Ohio,  over  an  area  of  little  less  ih&ufour 
square  miles  !  We  can  find  their  parallels  only  in  the  great 
temples  of  Abury  and  Stonehenge  in  England,  and  Carnac  in 
Brittany,  and  associate  them  with  a  mysterious  worship  of  the 
Sun,  or  an  equally  mysterious  Sabianism.  Within  the  mounds 
inclosed  in  many  of  these  sacred  works,  we  find  the  altars  upon 
which  glowed  their  sacrificial  fires,  and  where  the  ancient  peo 
ple  offered  their  propitiations  to  the  strange  gods  of  their  primi 
tive  superstition.  These  altars  also  furnish  us  with  the  too 
unequivocal  evidence  that  the  ritual  of  the  mound-builders, 
like  that  of  the  Aztecs,  was  disfigured  by  sanguinary  observ 
ances,  and  that  human  sacrifices  were  not  deemed  unacceptable 
to  the  divinity  of  their  worship.  It  is  of  course  impossible  in 
this  connection  to  go  into  the  details  of  the  evidence  upon  this 
or  kindred  points  of  interest. 


310 


THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

THE    MOUNDS. 


-  FIG.  69.     Temple  Mound. 

Intimately  connected  with  the 
interesting  works  already  de 
scribed  are  the  mounds ;  of  these, 
however,  little  has  hitherto  been 
known.  The  popular  opinion, 
based,  in  a  great  degree,  upon  the 
well-ascertained  purposes  of  the 
barrows  and  tumuli  occurring  in 
certain  parts  of  Europe  and  Asia, 
is,  that  they  are  simple  monu 
ments,  marking  the  last  resting-place  of  some  great  chief  or 
distinguished  individual,  among  the  tribes  of  the  builders. 
Some  have  supposed  them  to  be  the  cemeteries,  in  which  were 
deposited  the  dead  of  a  tribe  or  village,  for  a  certain  period, 
and  that  the  size  of  the  mound  is  an  indication  of  the  number 
inhumed.  Others,  that  they  mark  the  sites  of  great  battles, 
and  contain  the  bones  of  the  slain.  On  all  hands  the  opinion 
has  been  entertained,  that  they  were  devoted  to  sepulture  alone. 
This  received  opinion  is  not,  however,  sustained  by  the  investi 
gations  set  on  foot  by  the  writer  and  his  associate.  The  con- 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY.  311 

elusion  to  which  their  observations  have  led,  is,  that  the  mounds 
were  constructed  for  several  grand  and  dissimilar  purposes  ;  or 
rather,  that  they  are  of  different  classes  ; — the  conditions  upon 
which  the  classification  is  founded  being  four  in  number — 
namely :  position,  form,  structure,  and  contents.  In  this  classi 
fication,  we  distinguish — 

1st.  Altar  Mounds,  which  occur  in,  or  in  the  immediate 
vicinity  of  inclosures,  which  are  stratified,  and  contain  altars 
of  burned  clay  or  stone,  and  which  were  places  of  sacrifice. 

2d.  Mounds  of  Sepulture,  which  stand  isolated,  or  in  groups, 
more  or  less  remote  from  the  inclosures,  which  are  not  stratified, 
which  contain  human  remains,  and  which  were  the  burial-places 
and  monuments  of  the  dead. 

3d.  Temple  Mounds,  which  occur  most  usually  within,  but  some 
times  without  the  walls  of  inclosures;  which  possess  great 
regularity  of  form ;  which  contain  neither  altars  nor  human  re 
mains  ;  but  which  were  "  High  Places  "  for  the  performance  of 
religious  rites  and  ceremonies,  the  sites  of  structures,  or  in  some 
way  connected  with  the  superstitions  of  the  builders. 

4th.  Anomalous  Mounds,  including  mounds  of  observation, 
and  such  as  were  applied  to  a  double  purpose,  or  of  which  the 
design  and  objects  are  not  apparent.  This  division  includes 
all  which  do  not  clearly  fall  within  the  preceding  three  classes. 

These  classes  are  broadly  marked  in  the  aggregate ;  but,  in 
some  instances,  they  seem  to  run  into  each  other.  Mounds  of 
this  mixed  character,  as  well  as  those  which,  under  our  present 
condition  of  knowledge  respecting  them,  do  not  seem  to  indi 
cate  any  clear  purpose,  have  been  denominated  anomalous.  Of 
one  hundred  mounds  excavated,  sixty  were  altar  or  sacrificial 
mounds,  twenty  sepulchral,  and  twenty  either  places  of  obser 
vation  or  anomalous  in  their  character.  Such,  however,  is  not 
the  proportion  in  which  they  occur.  From  the  fact  that  the 
mounds  of  sacrifice  are  most  interesting  and  most  productive 
in  relics,  the  largest  number  excavated  has  been  of  that  class. 
In  the  Scioto  valley  the  mounds  are  distributed  between  the 


312  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

three  classes  specified,  in  very  nearly  equal  proportions ;  the 
mounds  of  observation  and  the  anomalous  mounds  constituting 
together  about  one  third  of  the  whole  number. 

Mounds  of  Sacrifice. — The  general  characteristics  of  this 
class  of  mounds  are : 

1st.  That  they  occur  only  within,  or  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  inclosures  or  sacred  places.* 

2d.   That  they  are  stratified. 

3d.  That  they  contain  symmetrical  altars  of  burned  clay 
or  stone,  on  which  are  deposited  various  remains,  which,  in 
all  cases,  have  been  more  or  less  subjected  to  the  action  of  fire. 

Of  the  whole  number  of  mounds  of  this  class  which  were 
examined  by  the  author,  four  only  were  found  to  be  exterior  to 
the  walls  of  inclosures,  and  these  were  but  a  few  rods  distant 
from  the  ramparts. 

The  fact  of  stratification,  in  these  mounds,  is  one  of  great 
interest  and  importance.  This  feature  has  heretofore  been 
remarked,  but  not  described  with  proper  accuracy ;  and  has 
consequently  proved  an  impediment  to  the  recognition  of  the 
artificial  origin  of  the  mounds,  by  those  who  have  never  seen 
them.  The  stratification,  so  far  as  observed,  is  not  horizontal, 
but  always  conforms  to  the  convex  outline  of  the  mound. f  Nor 

*  It  is  not  assumed  to  say  that  all  the  mounds  occurring  within  inclo 
sures  are  altar  or  sacrificial  mounds.  On  the  contrary,  some  are  found 
which,  to  say  the  least,  are  anomalous,  while  others  were  clearly  the 
sites  of  structures  or  temple  mounds. 

f  Some  of  the  mounds,  on  the  Lower  Mississippi,  are  horizontally 
stratified,  exhibiting  alternate  layers,  from  base  to  summit.  These 
mounds  differ  in  form  from  the  conical  structures  here  referred  to,  and 
were  doubtless  constructed  for  a  different  purpose.  Some  are  repre 
sented  as  composed  of  layers  of  earth,  two  or  three  feet  thick,  each  one 
of  which  is  surmounted  by  a  burned  surface,  which  has  been  mistaken 
for  a  rude  brick  pavement.  Others  are  composed  of  alternate  layers  of 
earth  and  human  remains.  Their  origin  is  doubtless  to  be  found  in  the 
annual  bone  burials  of  the  Cherokees  and  other  southern  Indians,  of 
which  accounts  are  given  by  Bartram  and  other  early  writers.  It  is  not 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY.  313 

does  it  resemble  the  stratification  produced  by  the  action  of 
water,  where  the  layers  run  into  each  other,  but  is  defined  with 
the  utmost  distinctness,  and  always  terminates  upon  reaching 
the  level  of  the  surrounding  earth.  That  it  is  artificial  will,  how 
ever,  need  no  argument  to  prove,  after  an  examination  of  one 
of  the  mounds  in  which  the  feature  occurs  ;  for,  it  would 'be  dif 
ficult  to  explain,  by  what  singular  combination  of  "  igneous  and 
aqueous  "  action,  stratified  mounds  were  always  raised  over  sym 
metrical  monuments  of  burned  clay  or  of  stone. 

The  altars,  or  basins,  found  in  these  mounds,  are  almost  in 
variably  of  burned  clay,  though  one  or  two  of  stone  have  been 
discovered.  They  are  symmetrical,  but  not  of  uniform  size  and 
shape.  Some  are  round,  others  elliptical,  and  others  square,  or 
parallelograms.  Some  are  small,  measuring  barely  two  feet 
across,  while  others  are  fifty  feet  long  by  twelve  and  fifteen 
wide.  The  usual  dimensions  are  from  five  to  eight  feet.  All 
appear  to  have  been  modeled  of  fine  clay,  brought  to  the  spot 
from  a  distance,  and  rest  upon  the  original  surface  of  the  earth. 
In  a  few  instances,  a  layer  or  small  elevation  of  sand  had  been 
laid  down,  upon  which  the  altar  was  formed.  The  elevation  of 
the  altars,  nevertheless,  seldom  exceeds  a  foot  or  twenty  inches 
above  the  adjacent  level.  The  clay  of  which  they  are  composed 
is  usually  burned  hard,  sometimes  to  the  depth  of  ten,  fifteen, 
and  even  twenty  inches.  This  is  hardly  to  be  explained,  by 
any  degree  or  continuance  of  heat,  though  it  is  manifest  that  in 
some  cases  the  heat  was  intense.  On  the  other  hand,  a  number 
of  these  altars  have  been  noticed,  which  are  very  slightly  burned  ; 
and  such,  it  is  a  remarkable  fact,  are  destitute  of  remains. 

The  subjoined  account  of  a  mound  of  this  class  (No.  9  of 
"  Mound  City,"  A.  M.  Plate  XIX..)  will  give  an  idea  of  their 
detailed  characteristics.  This  mound  is  seven  feet  high  by  fifty- 
impossible  that,  in  rare  instances,  natural  elevations  have  been  modified 
by  art  so  as  to  serve  some  of  the  purposes  for  which  mounds  were 
erected.  In  such  the  natural  stratification  would  be  preserved. 

14 


314  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

five  feet  base.  A  shaft,  five  feet  square,  was  sunk  from  its  apex, 
with  the  following  results.: — 

1st.  Occurred  a  layer  of  coarse  gravel  and  pebbles,  which  ap 
peared  to  have  been  taken  from  deep  pits,  surrounding  the  in- 
closure,  or  from  the  bank  of  the  river.  This  layer  was  one  foot 
in  thickness. 

2d.  Beneath  this  layer  of  gravel  and  pebbles,  to  the  depth 
of  two  feet,  the  earth  was  homogeneous,  though  slightly  mottled, 
as  if  taken  up  and  deposited  in  small  loads,  from  different  locali 
ties.  In  one  place  appeared  a  deposit  of  dark-colored,  surface 
loam,  and  by  its  side,  or  covering  it,  there  was  a  mass  of  the 
clayey  soil  of  greater  depth.  The  outlines  of  these  various  de 
posits  could  be  distinctly  traced. 

3d.  Below  this  deposit  of  earth,  occurred  a  thin  and  even 
layer  of  fine  sand,  a  little  over  an  inch  in  thickness. 

4th.  A  deposit  of  earth,  as  above,  eighteen  inches  in  depth. 

5th.  Another  stratum  of  sand,  somewhat  thinner  than  the 
one  above  mentioned. 

6th.  Another  deposit  of  earth,  one  foot  thick ;  beneath  which 
was — 

7th.  A  third  stratum  of  sand ;  below  which  was — 

8th.  Still  another  layer  of  earth,  a  few  inches  in  thickness ; 
which  rested  on — 

9th.  An  altar,  or  basin,  of  burned  clay. 

This  altar  was  perfectly  round,  nine  feet  in  diameter,  and 
twenty  inches  high.  The  basin,  or  hollow,  was  also  perfectly 
round,  five  feet  in  diameter,  and  nine  inches  deep.  The  body 
of  the  altar  was  burned  throughout,  though  in  a  greater  degree 
within  the  basin,  where  it  was  so  hard  as  to  resist  the  blows  of 
a  heavy  hatchet,  the  instrument  rebounding  as  if  struck  upon  a 
rock.  The  basin,  or  hollow  of  the  altar,  was  filled  even  full  with 
fine  dry  ashes,  intermixed  with  which  were  some  fragments  of 
pottery,  of  an  excellent  finish  and  elegant  model,  ornamented 
with  tasteful  carvings  on  the  exterior.  One  of  the  vases,  taken 
in  fragments  from  this  mound,  has  been  very  nearly  restored. 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY.  315 

Its  height  is  six,  its  greatest  diameter  eight  inches.  The  mate 
rial  is  hardly  distinguishable  from  that  composing  the  pottery 
of  the  ancient  Peruvians ;  and  in  respect  of  finish,  it  is  fully 
equal  to  the  best  Peruvian  specimens.  A  few  convex  copper 
discs,  much  resembling  the  bosses  used  upon  harnesses,  were 
also  found. 

Above  the  deposit  of  ashes,  and  covering  the  entire  basin, 
was  a  layer  of  silvery  or  opaque  mica,  in  sheets,  overlapping 
each  other ;  and,  immediately  over  the  centre  of  the  basin,  was 
heaped  a  quantity  of  burned  human  bones,  probably  the  amount 
of  a  single  skeleton,  in  fragments.  The  layer  of  mica  and  cal 
cined  bones,  it  should  be  remarked,  to  prevent  misapprehension, 
were  peculiar  to  this  individual  mound,  and  were  not  found  in 
any  other  of  the  class. 

At  a  point  about  two  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  mound,  a 
human  skeleton  was  found.  It  was  placed  a  little  to  the  left 
of  the  centre,  with  the  head  to  the  east,  and  was  so  much  de 
cayed  as  to  render  it  impossible  to  extract  a  single  bone  entire. 
Above  the  skeleton,  the  earth  and  outer  layer  of  gravel  and 
pebbles  were  broken  up  and  intermixed.  Thus  while  on  one 
side  of  the  shaft  the  strata  were  clearly  marked,  on  the  other 
they  were  confused.  And,  as  this  was  the  first  mound  of  the 
class  excavated,  it  was  supposed,  from  this  circumstance,  that 
it  had  previously  been  opened  by  some  explorer,  and  it  had 
been  decided  to  abandon  it  when  the  skeleton  was  discovered. 
Afterward  the  matter  came  to  be  fully  understood.  No  relics 
were  found  with  this  skeleton. 

It  is  a  fact  well  known,  that  the  modern  Indians,  though 
possessing  no  knowledge  of  the  origin  or  objects  of  the 
mounds,  were  accustomed  to  regard  them  with  some  degree 
of  veneration.  It  is  also  known,  that  they  sometimes  buried 
their  dead  in  them,  in  accordance  with  the  almost  invariable 
custom  which  leads  them  to  select  elevated  points,  and  the 
brows  of  hills,  as  their  cemeteries.  That  their  remains  should 
be  found  in  the  mounds,  is  therefore  a  matter  of  no  surprise. 


316  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

They  are  never  discovered  at  any  great  depth,  not  often  more 
than  eighteen  inches  or  three  feet  below  the  surface.  Their 
position  varies  in  almost  every  case :  most  are  extended  at 
length,  others  have  a  sitting  posture,  while  others  again  seem 
to  have  been  rudely  thrust  into  their  shallow  graves  without 
care  or  arrangement.  Rude  implements  of  bone  and  stone, 
and  coarse  vessels  of  pottery,  such  as  are  known  to  have  been 
in  use  among  the  Indians  at  the  period  of  the  earliest  Euro 
pean  intercourse,  occur  with  some  of  them,  particularly  with 
those  of  a  more  ancient  date  ;  while  modern  implements  and 
ornaments,  in  some  cases  of  European  origin,  are  found  with 
the  recent  burials.  The  necessity  therefore  of  a  careful  and 
rigid  discrimination,  between  these  deposits  and  those  of  the 
mound-builders,  will  be  apparent.  From  the  lack  of  such 
discrimination,  much  misapprehension  and  confusion  have 
resulted.  Silver  crosses,  gun-barrels,  and  French  dial-plates 
have  been  found  with  skeletons  in  the  mounds  5  yet  it  is  not 
to  be  concluded  that  the  mound-builders  were  Catholics,  or 
used  fire-arms,  or  understood  French.  Such  a  conclusion 
would,  nevertheless,  be  quite  as  well  warranted,  as  some 
which  have  been  deduced  from  the  absolute  identity  of  cer 
tain  relics,  taken  from  the  mounds,  with  articles  known  to  be 
common  among  the  existing  tribes  of  Indians.  The  fact  of 
remains  occurring  in  the  mounds,  is  in  itself  hardly  pre 
sumptive  evidence  that  they  pertained  to  the  builders.  The 
conditions  attending  them  can  alone  determine  their  true 
character.  As  a  general  rule,  to  which  there  are  few  excep 
tions,  the  only  authentic  and  undoubted  remains  of  the 
mound-builders  are  found  directly  beneath  the  apex  of  the 
mound,  on  a  level  with  the  original  surface  of  the  earth  ; 
and  it  may  be  safely  assumed,  that  whatever  deposits  occur 
near  the  surface  of  the  mounds  are  of  a  date  subsequent  to 
their  erection. 

In  the  class  of  mounds  now  under  consideration  we  have 
data  which  will  admit  of  no  doubt,  whereby  to  judge  of  the 


OF    THE    MISIISSIPPI    VALLEY.  317 

origin,  as  well  as  the  relative  periods,  of  the  various  deposits 
found  in  them.  If  the  stratification  already  mentioned  as 
characterizing  them,  is  unbroken  and  undisturbed,  if  the 
strata  are  regular  and  entire,  it  is  certain  that  whatever  oc 
curs  beneath  them,  was  placed  there  at  the  period  of  the  con 
struction  of  the  mound.  And  if,  on  the  other  hand,  these 
strata  are  broken  up,  it  is  equally  certain  that  the  mound  has 
been  disturbed,  and  new  deposits  made,  subsequent  to  its 
erection.  It  is  in  this  view,  that  the  fact  of  stratification  is 
seen  to  be  important,  as  well  as  interesting ;  for  it  will  serve 
to  fix,  beyond  all  dispute,  the  origin  of  many  singular  relics, 
having  a  decisive  bearing  on  some  of  the  leading  questions 
connected  with  American  Archaeology.  The  thickness  of  the 
exterior  layer  of  gravel,  &c.,  in  mounds  of  this  class,  varies 
with  the  dimensions  of  the  mound,  from  eight  to  twenty 
inches.  In  a  very  few  instances,  the  layer,  which  may  have 
been  designed  to  protect  the  form  of  the  mound,  and  which 
purpose  it  admirably  subserves,  is  entirely  wanting.  The 
number  and  relative  position  of  the  sand  strata  are  variable ; 
in  some  of  the  larger  mounds,  there  are  as  many  as  six  of 
them,  in  no  case  less  than  one,  most  usually  two  or  three. 

In  one  case  which  fell  under  my  observation,  and  in  another, 
of  which  I  have  an  account  from  the  person  who  discovered 
it,  the  altar  was  of  stone.  This  altar  was  elevated  two  and 
one  half  feet  above  the  original  surface  of  the  earth,  and  was 
five  feet  long  by  four  broad.  It  was  a  simple  elevation  of 
earth  packed  hard,  and  was  faced,  on  every  side  and  on  top, 
with  slabs  of  stone  of  regular  form,  and  nearly  uniform  thick 
ness.  They  were  laid  evenly,  and,  as  a  mason  would  say, 
"  with  close  joints  ;"  and  though  uncut  by  any  instrument, 
the  edges  were  straight  and  smooth.  The  stone  is  "  the  "Wa- 
verly  sandstone,"  underlying  the  coal  series,  thin  strata  of 
which  cap  every  hill.  This  stone  breaks  readily,  with  a  rect 
angular  fracture,  and  hence  the  regularity  of  the  slabs  is  not 
so  much  a  matter  of  surprise.  This  altar  bore  the  marks  of 


318  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

fire,  and  fragments  of  the  mound-builders'  ornaments  were 
found  on  and  around  it.  What  had  originally  been  deposited 
there  was  probably  removed  by  the  modern  Indians,  who 
had  opened  the  mound  and  buried  one  of  their  dead  on  the 
altar. 

Mounds  of  this  class  are  most  fruitful  in  relics  of  the 
builders.  On  the  altars  have  been  found,  though  much  in 
jured  and  broken  up  by  the  action  of  fire,  instruments  and 
ornaments  of  silver,  copper,  stone,  and  bone  ;  beads  of  silver, 
copper,  pearls,  and  shell;  spear  and  arrow  heads  of  flint, 
quartz,  garnet,  and  obsidian ;  fossil  teeth  of  the  shark  ;  teeth 
of  the  alligator ;  marine  shells  ;  galena ;  sculptures  o  f  the 
human  head,  and  of  numerous  animals  ;  pottery  of  various 
kinds,  and  a  large  number  of  interesting  articles,  some  of 
which  evince  great  skill  in  art.  No  description  of  these  can 
be  given  here. 

MOUNDS    OF    SEPULCHRE. 

The  Mounds  of  Sepulchre  stand  apart  from  the  inclosures, 
and,  in  their  average  dimensions,  greatly  exceed  those  of  the 
first  class.  The  celebrated  mound  at  Grave  Creek  is  of  this 
class.  They  lack  the  gravel  and  sand  strata,  which  character 
ize  those  already  described,  and  are  destitute  of  "  altars." 
They  invariably  cover  a  skeleton  (sometimes  more  than  one, 
as  at  Grave  Creek),  which,  at  the  time  of  its  interment,  was 
inclosed  in  a  rude  framework  of  timber,  or  enveloped  in  bark 
or  coarse  matting,  the  traces,  in  some  instances  the  very  casts, 
of  which  remain. 

The  subjoined  account  of  a  single  mound  of  this  class  will 
serve  to  exhibit  their  peculiarities.  It  occurs  on  the  third 
u  bottom "  or  terrace  of  the  Scioto  river,  six  miles  below  the 
town  of  Chillicothe.  There  are  no  inclosures  nearer  than  a  mile  ; 
though  there  are  three  or  four  other  mounds,  of  smaller  size,  on 
the  same  terrace,  within  a  few  hundred  yards.  The  mound  is 
twenty-two  feet  high,  by  ninety  feet  base.  The  principal  exca- 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY.  319 

vation  was  made  from  the  west  side,  commencing  at  about  one- 
third  of  the  height  of  the  mound  from  the  top.     At  ten  feet 
below  the  surface,  occurred  a  layer  of  charcoal,  not  far  from  ten 
feet  square,  and  from  two  to  six  inches  in  thickness,  slightly  in 
clined  from  the  horizontal,  and  lying  mostly  to  the  left  of  the 
centre  of  the  mound.    The  coal  was  coarse  and  clear,  and  seemed 
to  have  been  formed  by  the  sudden  covering  up  of  the  wood 
while  burning,  inasmuch  as  the  trunks  and  branches  retained 
their  form,  though  entirely  carbonized,  and  the  earth  immedi 
ately  above,  as  well  as  below,  was  burned  of  a  reddish  color. 
Below  this  layer  the  earth  became  much  more  compact  and  dif 
ficult  of  excavation.     At  the  depth  of  twenty-two  feet,  and  on 
a  level  with  the  original  surface,  immediately  underneath  the 
charcoal  layer,  and,  like  that,  somewhat  to  one  side  of  the  centre 
of  the  mound,  was  a  rude  timber  framework,  now  reduced  to  an 
almost  impalpable  powder,  but  the  cast  of  which  was  still  re 
tained  in  the  hard  earth.     This  inclosure  of  timber,  measured 
from  outside  to  outside,  was  nine  feet  long  by  seven  wide,  and 
twenty  inches  high.     It  had  been  constructed  of  logs  laid  one 
on  the  other,  and  had  evidently  been  covered  with  other  tim 
bers,  which  had  sunk  under  the  superincumbent  earth,  as  they 
decayed.     The  bottom  had  also  been  covered  with  bark,  mat 
ting,  or  thin  slabs — at  any  rate,  a  whitish  stratum  of  decomposed 
material  remained,  covering  the  bottom  of  the  parallelogram. 
Within  this  rude  coffin,  with  his  head  to  the  west,  was  found  a 
human  skeleton,  or  rather  the  remains  of  one ;  for  scarcely  a 
fragment  as  long  as  one's  finger  could  be  recovered.     It  was  so 
much  decayed  that  it  crumbled  to  powder  under  the  slightest 
touch.     Around  the  neck  of  the  skeleton,  forming  a  triple  row, 
and  retaining  their  position,  as  originally  strung  and  deposited 
with  the  dead,  were  several  hundred  beads,  made  of  ivory,  or 
the  tusks  of  some  animal.     Several  of  these  still  retain  their 
polish,  and  bear  marks  which  seem  to  indicate  that  they  were 
turned  in  some  machine,  instead  of  being  carved  by  hand.     A 
few  laminae  of  mica  were  also  discovered,  which  completed  the 


320  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

list  of  articles  found  with  this  skeleton.  The  feet  of  the  skele 
ton  were  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  mound.  A  drift  beyond  it 
developed  nothing  new,  nor  was  a  corresponding  layer  of  char 
coal  found  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  mound.  It  is  clear,  there 
fore,  that  the  tumulus  was  raised  over  this  single  skeleton.  In 
the  case  of  a  mound  of  this  class,  opened  at  Gallipolis,  on  the 
Ohio  river,  the  chamber  inclosing  the  skeleton  was  found  just 
below  the  original  surface, — which  can  always  be  detected  by  a 
strongly  marked  line  and  the  uniform  drab  color  of  the  earth 
beneath  it. 

The  layer  of  charcoal  is  not  uniformly  found  in  mounds  of 
this  class,  though  it  is  a  feature  of  frequent  occurrence.  It 
would  seem  to  indicate  that  sacrifices  were  made  for  the  dead, 
or  that  funeral  rites  of  some  kind  were  celebrated.  The  fire,  in 
every  case,  was  kept  burning  for  a  very  brief  space,  as  is  shown  by 
the  lack  of  ashes,  and  the  slight  traces  of  its  action  left  on  the 
adjacent  earth.  That  it  was  suddenly  heaped  over,  is  also 
proved  by  the  facts  already  presented. 

Bracelets  of  copper  and  silver;  beads  of  bone  and  shell; 
mica  plates  and  ornaments ;  stone  instruments  of  various  kinds, 
some  of  which  are  identical  with  those  found  in  mounds  of  the 
first  class,  &c.  &c.,  are  found  with  the  skeletons.  In  every  in 
stance  falling  within  our  observation,  the  skeleton  has  been  so 
much  decayed,  that  any  attempt  to  restore  the  skull,  or  indeed 
any  portion  of  it,  was  hopeless,  Considering  that  the  earth 
around  these  skeletons  is  wonderfully  compact  and  dry,  and 
that  the  conditions  for  their  preservation  were  exceedingly 
favorable,  while,  in  fact,  they  are  so  much  decayed,  we  may  form 
some  estimate  of  their  remote  antiquity.  In  the  barrows  and 
cromlechs  of  the  ancient  Britons,  entire  and  well-preserved 
skeletons  are  found,  although  having  an  undoubted  antiquity 
of  1800  years. 

In  some  of  the  sepulchral  mounds,  as  has  already  been 
stated,  the  sarcophagus,  if  we  so  please  to  term  it,  was  omitted 
by  the  builders,  the  dead  body  having  been  simply  enveloped 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY. 


in  bark  or  matting.  Perhaps  this  course  was  most  frequently 
pursued.  In  these  cases  the  original  surface  appears  to  have 
been  carefully  smoothed  and  leveled,  for  a  space  ten  or  twenty 
feet  square,  which  space  was  covered  with  bark.  Upon  this  was 
deposited  the  dead  body,  and,  by  its  side,  such  personal  orna 
ments  or  implements  as  were  deemed  proper,  the  whole  being 
covered  with  another  layer  of  bark,  and  the  tumulus  raised 
above.  Instances  have  occurred  in  which  it  is  clear  that  burial 
by  incremation  was  made,  but  these  are  comparatively  rare.  In 
the  celebrated  mound  at  Grave  Creek,  two  sepulchral  chambers 
were  discovered,  one  at  the  base,  another  at  a  higher  point. 
The  lower  one  contained  two  skeletons,  and  the  upper  but  one. 
The  mound,  in  this  respect,  is  somewhat  extraordinary.  It  may 
be  conjectured,  with  some  appearance  of  reason,  that  it  con 
tained  the  bones  of  the  family  of  a  chieftain,  or  a  distinguished 
individual,  among  the  builders.  It  is  common  to  find  two  or 
three,  sometimes  four  or  five,  sepulchral  mounds,  in  a  group. 
In  such  cases,  it  is  always  to  be  remarked,  that  one  of  the  group 


FIG.  70. 


is  much  the  largest,  twice  or  three  times  the  dimensions  of  any 
of  the  others,  and  that  the  smaller  ones  are  arranged  around  its 
base,  generally  joining  it,  thus  evincing  an  intended  dependence 

14* 


322  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

and  close  connection  between  them.  Plans  of  three  groups  of 
this  description  are  given  in  the  annexed  figures.  May  we  not 
conclude  that  such  a  group  is  the  tomb  of  a  family — the  prin 
cipal  mound  covering  the  head  of  the  same,  the  smaller  ones  its 
various  members  ?  In  the  Grave  Creek  mound,  it  is  possible 
that,  instead  of  building  a  new  mound,  an  additional  chamber 
was  constructed  upon  the  summit  of  the  one  already  raised — a 
single  mound  being  thus  made  to  occupy  the  place  of  a  group. 


TEMPLE    MOUNDS. 


These  mounds  are  distinguished  by  their  general  large  di 
mensions  and  great  regularity  of  form.  They  occur  most 
usually  within,  but  sometimes  without,  the  walls  of  inclosures. 
They  consist  chiefly  of  pyramidal  structures,  truncated  and 
generally  having  graded  avenues  to  their  tops.  In  some  in 
stances  they  are  terraced,  or  have  successive  stages.  But 
whatever  their  form,  whether  round,  oval,  octangular,  square, 
or  oblong,  they  have  invariably  flat  or  level  tops  of  greater 
or  less  area.  Examples  are  known  in  which,  although  but  a 
few  feet  in  elevation,  they  cover  several  acres  of  ground ;  in 
which  cases  they  are  commonly  called  "  platforms."  Exam 
ples  of  these  structures  are  given  in  "  Ancient  Monuments 
of  the  Mississippi  Valley,"  Plates  XVIII,  XXV.,  XXVL, 
and  in  Figs.  59,  60,  61,  62,  63,  64,  65.  So  far  as  ascertained 
they  cover  no  remains,  and  are  obviously  designed  as  the  sites 
of  temples  or  of  other  structures  which  have  passed  away,  or 
as  "  high  places"  for  the  performance  of  religious  ceremonies. 
The  likeness  which  they  bear  to  the  Teocallis  of  Mexico,  is 
•  striking,  and  suggestive  of  their  probable  purposes. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  of  this  class  of  structures  is 
that  at  Cahokia,  in  Illinois.  Its  form  is  that  of  a  parallelo 
gram,  seven  hundred  feet  long,  by  five  hundred  wide  at  the 
base.  It  is  ninety  feet  high.  Upon  one  side  is  a  broad  apron 
or  terrace,  which  is  reached  by  a  graded  ascent.  At  the  time 
this  mound  w^s  occupied  by  the  Monks  of  La  Trappe,  the  ter- 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY. 


323 


race  was  used  as  a  garden.  It  is  one  hundred  and  sixty  feet 
wide,  and  three  hundred  and  fifty  long.  The  summit,  or 
highest  part  of  the  mound  measures  two  hundred  feet  in 
width  by  four  hundred  and  fifty  in  length.  This  mound  cov 
ers  not  far  from  eight  acres  of  ground,  and  the  area  of  its 
level  summit  is  about  five  acres.  Its  solid  contents  may  be 
roughly  estimated  at  20,000.000  of  cubic  feet.  In  the  states 
bordering  on  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  these  mounds  constitute 
the  most  numerous  and  important  part  of  the  ancient  re 
mains.  Here  they  are  generally  of  larger  size,  and  enter 
into  new  combinations,  occurring  entirely  separate  from  in- 
closures  of  any  sort,  and  frequently  placed  with  great  regu 
larity  in  respect  to  each  other.  It  sometimes  happens  that 
a  large  truncated  mound  is  surrounded  by  a  series  of  smaller 
ones,  so  as  to  form  an  ellipse,  circle,  square,  or  parallelogram. 


FIG.  71. 

No.  1  in  the  above  cut  (Fig.  71),  occurs  within  the  great 
inclosure  at  Marietta,  Ohio.  The  plan  and  sections  exhibit 
its  structure  and  dimensions.  No.  2  is  an  elevation  of  a  sim 
ilar  mound  on  the  banks  of  Walnut  Bayou,  Madison  Parish, 
Louisiana. 


324  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 


ANOMALOUS    MOUNDS. 


It  will  be  impossible,  within  the  compass  of  this  resume,  to 
enter  into  the  details  which  a  proper  notice  of  these  mounds 
would  require.  Such  a  notice  would  necessarily  involve  a  de 
scription  of  almost  every  one  thus  characterized.  A  single 
mound  was  examined  which  contained  an  altar,  and  also  a 
skeleton  with  its  rude  inclosure  of  wood.  It  was  elliptical  in 
shape,  measuring  one  hundred  and  sixty  feet  in  length,  sixty 
in  width  and  twenty-five  in  height.  The  altar  occupied  one 
centre  of  the  ellipse,  the  chamber  of  the  skeleton  the  other. 
Of  the  twenty-six  mounds  embraced  in  "Mound  City,"  six  are 
of  very  small  dimensions,  not  exceeding  three  feet  in  height. 
Within  each  of  these  was  deposited  a  quantity  of  burned  hu 
man  bones  in  fragments,  not  exceeding  in  any  case  the  amount 
of  a  single  skeleton.  No  relics  were  found  with  these,  though 
in  one  instance  the  fragment  of  an  altar,  a  couple  of  inches 
square,  was  observed  with  the  bones,  leading  to  the  conclusion 
that  they  were  taken  up  from  the  altars,  in  the  adjacent  larger 
mounds,  and  afterward  finally  deposited  here. 

On  the  tops  of  the  hills  and  on  the  jutting  points  of  the 
table  lands  bordering  the  valleys  in  which  the  earth-works  of 
the  West  are  found,  mounds  occur  in  considerable  numbers. 
The  most  elevated  and  commanding  positions  are  frequently 
crowned  by  them,  suggesting  at  once  the  use  to  which  some 
of  the  cairns  of  the  Celts  were  applied — that  of  signal  or 
alarm  posts.  On  a  high  hill,  opposite  Chillicothe,  six  hun 
dred  feet  in  height,  the  loftiest  in  the  whole  region,  one  of 
these  mounds  is  placed.  A  fire  built  upon  it  would  be  visible 
for  a  distance  of  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  up  and  down  the 
river,  as  well  as  for  a  number  of  miles  up  the  valley  of  Paint 
Creek — a  broad  and  fertile  valley,  abounding  in  ancient  mon 
uments.  Between  Chillicothe  and  Columbus,  a  distance  of 
forty-five  miles,  there  are  about  twenty  mounds,  so  placed 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY.  325 

that,  it  is  believed,  if  the  country  were  cleared  of  forests,  sig 
nals  by  fire  could  be  transmitted  along  the  whole  line  in  a 
few  minutes.  My  examination  of  this  description  of  mounds, 
from  a  variety  of  causes,  has  been  comparatively  limited.  So 
far  as  my  personal  observation  goes,  they  contain  few  of  the 
remains  found  in  the  two  classes  of  mounds  just  described ; 
and,  although  there  are  traces  of  fire  around  many  of  them, 
the  marks  are  not  sufficiently  strong  to  justify  fully  the  infe 
rences  that  they  were  look-outs  and  fires  used  as  the  signals. 
Indeed,  it  is  certain  that,  in  some  cases,  they  contain  human 
remains,  undoubtedly  those  of  the  mound-builders.  It  is 
possible  that  a  portion,  perhaps  all,  were  devoted  to  sepulture, 
another  portion  to  observation,  or  that  some  answered  a  double 
purpose.  This  is  a  point  which  remains  to  be  settled  by  more 
extended  observations. 

GENERAL  OBSERVATIONS  ON  MOUNDS. 

Whether  these  classes  are  maintained  throughout  the  West, 
is  a  question  which  a  systematic  examination,  carried  on  over  a 
wide  field,  alone  can  determine.  In  almost  every  case  falling 
within  our  knowledge,  where  mounds  have  been  thoroughly  ex 
amined  by  competent  persons,  some  of  the  features  here  marked 
have  been  noticed.  It  is  conjectured,  that  the  "  brick  hearths," 
of  which  mention  has  occasionally  been  made,  were  the  "  altars," 
already  described  as  belonging  to  a  certain  class  of  mounds. 
Nothing  is  more  likely  than  that  some  of  them  were  left  uncov 
ered  by  the  builders,  and  subsequently  hidden  by  natural  accu 
mulations,  to  be  again  exposed  by  the  invading  plough,  or  the 
recession  of  the  banks  of  streams.  The  indentations  occasion 
ed  by  the  passage  of  roots  across  them,  or  by  other  causes, 
would  naturally  suggest  the  notion  of  rude  brick  hearths. 

REMAINS    OP    ART   FOUND   IN   THE    MOUNDS. 

The  condition  of  the  ordinary  arts  of  life,  among  the  people 
which  constructed  the  singular  and  often  imposing  monuments 


326 


THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 


we  have  been  contemplating,  furnishes  a  prominent  and  inter 
esting  subject  of  inquiry.  How  far  the  conclusion,  already  hy- 
pothetically  advanced,  that  the  vast  amount  of  labor  expended 
upon  these  works,  their  number,  and  the  regularity  and  design 
which  they  exhibit,  denote  a  numerous  people,  considerably  ad 
vanced  from  the  nomadic,  hunter,  or  radically  savage  state, — 
how  far  this  conclusion  is  sustained  by  the  character  of  the 
minor  remains,  of  which  we  shall  now  speak,  remains  to  be 
seen. 

It  has  already  been  remarked  that  the  mounds  are  the  prin 
cipal  depositories  of  ancient  art,  and  that  in  them  we  must  seek 
for  the  only  authentic  remains  of  the  builders.  In  the  obser 
vance  of  a  practice  almost  universal  among  barbarous  or  semi- 
civilized  nations,  the  mound-builders  deposited  various  articles 
of  use  and  ornament  with  their  dead.  They  also,  under  the 
prescriptions  of  their  religion,  or  in  accordance  with  customs 
unknown  to  us,  and  to  which  perhaps  no  direct  analogy  is 
afforded  by  those  of  any  other  people,  placed  upon  their  altars 
numerous  ornaments  and  implements, — probably  those  most 
valued  by  their  possessors. — which  remain  there  to  this  day, 
attesting  at  once  the  religious  zeal  of  the  depositors,  and  their 
skill  in  the  minor  arts. 

The  necessity  of  a  careful  discrimination  between  the  various 
remains  found  in  the  mounds,  resulting  from  the  fact  that  the 
races  succeeding  the  builders  in  occupation  of  the  country  often 
buried  their  dead  in  them,  has  probably  been  dwelt  upon  with 
sufficient  force,  in  another  connection.  Aside  from  the  distinc 
tive  features  of  the  relics  themselves,  attention  to  the  conditions 
under  which  they  are  discovered,  and  to  the  simple  rules  which 
seem  to  have  governed  the  mound-builders  in  making  their  de 
posits,  can  hardly  fail  to  fix,  with  great  certainty,  their  date 
and  origin.  Their  true  position  satisfactorily  determined,  we 
proceed  with  confidence  to  comparisons  and  deductions,  which 
otherwise,  however  accurate  and  ingenious  they  might  be,  would 
nevertheless  be  invested  with  painful  uncertainty.  From  want 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY.  327 

of  proper  care  in  this  respect,  there  is  no  doubt  that  articles  of 
European  origin,  which,  by  a  very  natural  train  of  events,  found 
their  way  to  the  mounds,  have  been  made  the  basis  of  specula 
tions  concerning  the  arts  of  the  mound-builders.  To  this  cause 
we  may  refer  the  existence  of  the  popular  errors,  that  the  an 
cient  people  were  acquainted  with  the  use  of  iron,  and  under 
stood  the  art  of  plating,  gilding,  etc.* 

The  relics  found  in  the  mounds  are  such  only  as,  from  the 
nature  of  the  materials  of  which  they  are  composed,  have  been 
able  to  resist  the  general  course  of  decay : — articles  of  pottery, 
bone,  shell,  stone,  and  metal.  We  can,  of  course,  expect  to 
find  but  slight  traces  of  instruments  or  utensils  of  wood,  and 
but  few,  and  doubtful  ones  at  best,  of  the  materials  which  went 
to  compose  articles  of  dress. 

The  first  inquiry  suggested  by  an  inspection  of  the  mounds 
and  other  earth-works  of  the  West,  relates  to  the  means  at  the 
command  of  the  builders  in  their  construction.  However  dense 
we  may  suppose  the  ancient  population  to  have  been,  we  must 
regard  these  works  as  entirely  beyond  their  capabilities,  unless 
they  possessed  some  artificial  aids.  As  an  agricultural  people, 
they  must  have  had  some  means  of  clearing  the  land  of  forests 
and  of  tilling  the  soil.  We  can  hardly  conceive,  at  this  day, 
how  these  operations  could  be  performed  without  the  aid  of 
iron  ;  yet  we  know  that  the  Mexicans  and  Peruvians,  whose 
monuments  emulate  the  proudest  of  the  old  world,  were  wholly 
unacquainted  with  the  uses  of  that  metal,  and  constructed  their 
edifices  and  carried  on  their  agricultural  operations  with  imple- 

*  A  silver  cup  is  said  to  have  been  found,  many  years  ago,  in  a  mound 
near  Marietta,  Ohio,  which,  "  though  simple  in  its  form,  was  smooth 
and  regular,  and  had  its  interior  finely  gilded"  (Schooler  aft's  View,  p. 
276.)  This  statement  has  been  quoted  by  several  writers,  as  illustrat 
ing  the  advance  of  the  mound-builders  in  the  arts.  Assuming  the  fact 
to  be  as  stated,  there  is  nothing  very  extraordinary  in  the  discovery. 
What  more  likely  than  that  this  cup  fell,  in  course  of  barter  or  by  acci 
dent,  into  the  hands  of  some  savage,  with  whom,  in  accordance  with 
the  Indian  custom,  it  was  buried  at  his  death. 


328  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

ments  of  wood,  stone,  and  copper.  They  possessed  the  secret 
of  hardening  the  metal  last  named,  so  as  to  make  it  subserve 
most  of  the  uses  to  which  iron  is  applied.  Of  it  they  made 
axes,  chisels,  and  knives.  The  mound-builders,  also,  worked  it 
into  similar  implements,  although  it  is  not  yet  certain  that  they 
contrived  to  give  it  any  extraordinary  hardness.  A  number 
of  axes  have  been  extracted  from  their  depositories,  the  general 
form  of  which  is  well  exhibited  in  the  engravings  of  Mexican 
axes,  presented  in  the  first  part  of  this  work,  in  treating  of  the 
use  of  copper  by  the  Aborigines.  A  specimen  found  in  a 
mound  near  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  (A.  M.  Fig.  81.)  consists  of  a 
solid,  well-hammered  piece  of  copper,  and  weighs  two  pounds 
and  five  ounces.  It  is  seven  inches  long  by  four  broad  at  the 
cutting  edge,  and  has  an  average  thickness  of  little  less  than 
four-tenths  of  an  inch.  Its  edge  is  slightly  curved,  some 
what  after  the  manner  of  the  axes  of  the  present  day,  and  is 
beveled  from  both  surfaces.  Copper  chisels,  gravers,  &c.,  have 
also  been  found  in  the  mounds.  The  metal  seems,  however, 
to  have  been  more  generally  applied  to  ornamental  than  useful 
purposes ;  for,  while  articles  of  ornament  are  common  in  both 
the  sacrificial  and  sepulchral  mounds,  copper  implements  are 
comparatively  rare.  It  is  possible  that  ornaments  were  more 
generally  placed  in  the  mounds  than  articles  of  use  ;  such  cer 
tainly  is  the  case  in  respect  to  the  mounds  of  sepulture.  Cop 
per  beads,  bracelets,  gorgets,  &c.  &c.,  are  of  frequent  occur 
rence. 

Silver  has  also  been  found,  but  in  small  quantities,  reduced 
to  great  thinness,  and  closely  wrapped  around  copper  orna 
ments.  The  ore  of  lead,  galena,  has  been  found  in  considera 
ble  abundance,  and  some  of  the  metal  itself  under  circum 
stances  implying  a  knowledge  of  its  use  on  the  part  of  the 
ancient  people.  The  discovery  of  gold  has  been  vaguely 
announced,  but  is  not  well  attested.  It  is  not  impossible  that 
articles  of  that  metal  have  been  found,  with  other  vestiges  of 
European  art,  accompanying  secondary  and  recent  deposits ; 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY.  329 

and  it  is  far  from  impossible  or  even  improbable,  judging  from 
the  extensive  intercourse  which  they  seem  to  have  maintained, 
that  the  metal  may  yet  be  disclosed  under  such  circumstances 
as  to  justify  the  conclusion  that  it  was  not  entirely  unknown 
to  the  mound  builders.  No  iron  or  traces  of  iron  have  been 
discovered,  except  in  connection  with  recent  deposits ;  and 
there  is  no  reason  for  believing  that  the  race  of  the  mounds 
had  the  slightest  acquaintance  with  its  uses. 

It  is  hardly  to  be  supposed  that  the  silver  and  copper  found 
in  the  mounds,  were  reduced  from  the  ores  of  these  metals. 
On  the  contrary,  it  is  nearly  certain  that  they  were  obtained 
native  from  primitive  deposits.  Indeed,  fragments  of  un- 
wrought  native  copper  have  occasionally  been  discovered,  of 
considerable  size ;  one  of  these,  from  which  portions  had  evi 
dently  been  cut,  weighing  twenty-three  pounds,  was  found,  a 
few  years  since,  near  Chillicothe.  Both  metals  appear  to 
have  been  worked  in  a  cold  state,  and  display  the  lamination 
of  surface  resulting  from  such  a  process.  This  is  somewhat 
remarkable,  as  the  fires  upon  the  altars  were  sufficiently 
strong,  in  some  instances,  to  melt  down  the  copper  ornaments 
and  implements  deposited  upon  them,  and  the  fact  that  the 
metal  was  fusible  could  hardly  have  escaped  notice.  The 
locality,  from  which  a  portion  at  least  of  the  supply  of  these 
metals  was  obtained,  is  pretty  clearly  indicated,  by  the  pecu 
liar  rnechanico-chemical  combination  existing  in  some  speci 
mens  between  the  silver  and  copper,  which  combination  char 
acterizes  the  native  masses  of  Lake  Superior.  The  evident 
scarcity  of  silver  may  also  be  regarded  as  supporting  this 
conclusion. 

Galena,  as  already  observed,  is  found  in  considerable  quan 
tities.  One  of  the  altars  uncovered  was  entirely  occupied  by 
a  deposit  of  this  mineral,  which  had  been  slightly  subjected 
to  the  action  of  fire.  No  native  deposits  of  galena  are  known 
to  exist  in  Ohio,  and  the  supply  of  the  mounds  was  probably 


330  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

obtained  fromthe  well-known  localities  on  the  Upper  Missis 
sippi. 

The  comparative  scarcity  of  copper  implements  seems  to 
imply  that  they  were  not  in  general  use.  At  any  rate,  they 
never  entirely  superseded  the  ruder  articles  of  bone  and  stone, 
so  generally  diffused  among  rude  nations  all  over  the  globe. 
In  Mexico  .and  Peru  those  characteristic  implements  of  a 
ruder  state  were  still  adhered  to  at  the  period  of  the  discov 
ery.  The  early  explorers  found  all  the  American  nations, 
from  the  squalid  Esquimaux,  who  struck  the  morse  with  a 
lance  pointed  with  its  own  tusks,  to  the  haughty  Aztec,  rival 
ing  in  his  barbaric  splendor  the  magnificence  of  the  East, 
including  the  fearless  hunter  tribes  situated  between  these 
extremes,  in  possession  of  them.  We  are  not,  therefore,  sur 
prised  at  their  occurrence  in  the  mounds.  We  find  them 
with  the  original  and  with  the  recent  deposits,  and  the  plough 
turns  them  up  to  light  on  every  hand.  And  so  striking  is  the 
resemblance  between  them  all,  that  we  are  almost  ready  to 
conclude  they  were  the  productions  of  the  same  people.  The 
conclusion  would  be  irresistible,  did  we  not  know  that  the 
wants  of  man  have  ever  been  the  same,  and  have  always  sug 
gested  like  forms  to  his  implements,  and  similar  modes  of 
using  them.  The  polished  instrument  with  which  the  pioneer 
of  civilization  prostrates  the  forest,  has  its  type  in  the  stone 
axe  of  the  Indian  which  his  plough  the  next  day  exposes  to 
his  curious  gaze.  In  the  barrows  of  Denmark  and  Siberia,  in 
the  tumuli  on  the  plains  of  Marathon,  and  even  under  the 
shadow  of  the  pyramids  themselves,  the  explorer  finds  relics, 
almost  identical  with  those  disclosed  from  the  mounds,  and 
closely  resembling  each  other  in  material,  form,  and  workman 
ship.  We  have  consequently  little  whereby  to  distinguish 
the  remains  of  the  mound-builders,  so  far  as  their  mere  im 
plements  of  stone  are  concerned,  except  the  position  in  which 
they  are  found,  and  the  not  entirely  imaginary  superiority  of 
their  workmanship,  from  those  of  the  succeeding  races.  We 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY.  331 

have,  however,  in  the  different  varieties  of  stone  of  which 
they  are  composed,  the  evidences  of  a  communication  more 
extended  than  we  are  justified  in  ascribing  to  the  more  recent 
tribes.  For  instance,  we  find  knives  and  lance-heads  of  obsid 
ian  (the  itzli  of  the  Mexicans  and  the  gallinazo  stone  of  the 
Peruvians),  a  volcanic  product,  the  nearest  native  locality  of 
which,  so  far  as  we  know,  is  Central  Mexico,  the  ancient  in 
habitants  of  which  country  applied  it  to  the  very  purposes 
for  which  it  was.  used  by  the  race  of  the  mounds. 

Arrow  and  lance  heads  and  cutting  instruments  of  the  nu 
merous  varieties  of  quartz,  embracing  every  shade  of  color 
and  degree  of  transparency,  from  the  dull  blue  of  the  ordina 
ry  hornstone  to  the  brilliant  opalescence  of  the  chalcedonic 
varieties,  are  frequent  in  the  mounds.  Some  are  worked  with 
exquisite  skill  from  pure,  limpid  crystals  of  quartz,  others  from 
crystals  of  manganesian  garnet,  and  others  still,  as  before  ob 
served,  from  obsidian.  It  is  a  singular  fact,  however,  that  none 
of  these,  nor  indeed  any  traces  of  weapons,  have  been  discovered 
in  the  "  sepulchral  mounds ;"  most  of  the  remains  found  with 
the  skeletons  being  evidently  such  as  were  deemed  ornamental, 
or  recognized  as  badges  of  distinction.  Some  of  the  altar  or 
sacrificial  mounds,  on  the  other  hand,  have  the  deposits  within 
them  almost  entirely  made  up  of  finished  arrow  and  spear 
points,  intermixed  with  masses  of  the  unmanufactured  material. 
From  one  altar  were  taken  several  bushels  of  finely  worked 
lance  heads  of  milky  quartz,  nearly  all  of  which  had  been  broken 
up  by  the  action  of  fire.  In  another  mound,  an  excavation  six 
feet  long  and  four  broad,  disclosed  upwards  of  six  hundred 
spear  heads  or  discs  of  hornstone,  rudely  blocked  out,  and  the 
deposit  extended  indefinitely  on  every  side.  Some  of  these  are 
represented  in  the  accompanying  engraving.  They  are  neces 
sarily  greatly  reduced.  The  originals  are  about  six  inches  long 
and  four  broad,  and  weigh  not  far  from  two  pounds  each.  Some 
specimens  from  this  deposit  are  nearly  round,  but  most  are  of 
the  shape  of  those  here  figured.  We  are  wholly  at  a  loss  re- 


332 


THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 


FIG.  72. 

specting  their  purposes,  unless  they  were  designed  to  be  worked 
into  the  more  elaborate  instruments  to  which  allusions  has  been 
made,  and  were  thus  roughly  blocked  out  for  greater  ease  of 
transportation  from  the  quarries.  Several  localities  are  known 
from  which  the  material  may  have  been  obtained.  One  of  these, 
distinguished  as  "  Flint  Ridge,"  has  been  described  on  a  pre 
ceding  page. 

One  description  of  knives,  found  in  the  mounds,  is  illustrated 
in  the  following  engraving,  which  also  exhibits  the  absolute 
identity  that  sometimes  exists  between  the  remains  of  widely 
separated  people,  and  how,  almost  as  it  were  by  instinct,  men 
hit  upon  common  methods  of  meeting  their  wants. 


FIG.  73. 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY.  333 

No.  1  is  of  flint,  from  a  Scandinavian  barrow ;  No.  2  is  of 
hornstone.  from  a  mound  in  Ohio ;  and  No.  3  is  of  obsidian 
from  the  pyramids  of  Teotihuacan,  in  Mexico.  They  are  all 
made  in  a  like  manner,  by  dexterously  chipping  off  thin,  nar 
row  pieces  from  blocks  of  the  various  minerals  mentioned,  all  of 
which  break  with  a  clear,  conchoidal  fracture  and  sharp  cutting 
edges.  Clavigero  states  that,  so  skillful  were  the  Mexicans  in 
this  manufacture,  that  their  workmen  produced  a  hundred  per 
hour.  It  was  with  knives  of  this  kind  that  the  bloody  sacrifices 
of  the  Aztecs  were  performed. 

In  the  manufacture  of  pottery,  as  has  already  been  intimated, 
the  mound-builders  attained  a  considerable  proficiency.  Many 
of  the  vases  recovered  from  the  mounds  display,  in  respect  to 
material,  finish,  and  model,  a  marked  superiority  to  anything 
.of  which  the  existing  Indian  tribes  are  known  to  have  been 
capable,  and  compare  favorably  with  the  best  Peruvian  speci 
mens.  Though  of  great  symmetry  of  proportions,  there  is  no 
good  reason  to  believe  that  they  were  turned  on  a  lathe.  Their 
fine  finish  seems  to  have  been  the  result  of  the  same  process 
with  that  adopted  by  the  Peruvians  in  their  manufactures. 
Some  of  them  are  tastefully  ornamented  with  scrolls,  figures  of 
birds,  and  other  devices,  which  are  engraved  in  the  surface,  in 
stead  of  being  embossed  upon  it.  The  lines  appear  to  have 
been  cut  with  some  sharp,  gouge-shaped  instrument,  which  en 
tirely  removed  the  detached  material,  leaving  no  ragged  or 
raised  edges.  Nothing  can  exceed  the  regularity  and  precision 
with  which  the  ornaments  are  executed.  The  material  of  which 
the  vases  are  composed  is  a  fine  clay,  which,  in  the  more  deli 
cate  specimens,  was  worked  nearly  pure,  or  possessing  a  very 
slight  silicious  intermixture.  Some  of  the  coarser  specimens  have 
pulverized  quartz  mingled  with  the  clay,  while  others  are  tem 
pered  with  salmon-colored  mica,  in  small  flakes,  which  gives 
them  a  ruddy  and  rather  brilliant  appearance,  and  was  perhaps 
introduced  with  some  view  to  ornament  as  well  as  utility.  None 
appear  to  have  been  glazed ;  though  one  or  two,  either  from 


334  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

baking  or  the  subsequent  great  heat  to  which  they  were  sub 
jected,  exhibit  a  slightly  vitrified  surface. 

Various  terra  cottas  are  extracted  from  the  mounds,  though 
they  are  far  from  numerous.  They  generally  represent  the 
heads  or  figures  of  animals. 


FIG.  74. 

Fig.  74,  is  an  outline  representation  of  a  rattle  of  baked  clay, 
found  in  a  mound  near  Nashville,  Tennessee.  It  has  the  form 
of  a  human  head,  with  a  portentous  nose  and  unprecedented 
phrenological  developments.  It  is  smooth  and  well  polished, 
and  contains  six  small  balls  of  clay,  which  were  discovered  by 
perforating  the  neck.  They  must  necessarily  have  been  intro 
duced  before  the  burning  of  the  toy.  Similar  conceits  were 
common  in  Mexico  and  Peru,  and  were  observed  by  Kotzebue 
upon  the  Northwest  Coast. 

Among  the  minerals  found  in  the  mounds,  mica  is  most  abun 
dant.  It  occurs  both  in  the  sacrificial  and  sepulchral  mounds, 
and  seems  to  have  been  invested  with  a  superstitious  regard,  and 
associated  with  certain  burial  and  religious  rites.  Some  idea  can 
be  formed  of  its  abundance  from  the  fact  that  bushels  are  some 
times  taken  from  a  single  mound.  It  is  found  of  every  variety — 
the  common  or  transparent,  silvery  or  opaque,  and  graphic  or 
hieroglyphical  varieties.  Some  specimens  have  a  fine  golden 
tinge,  resembling  Dutch  leaf.  It  is  sometimes  neatly  cut  into 
ornamental  figures,  discs,  scrolls,  and  oval  plates,  which  seem  to 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY.  335 

have  constituted  ornaments  for  dresses.  A  quantity,  cut  into 
the  form  of  discs  each  a  foot  in  diameter,  was  found  in  a  mound 
near  Chillicothe ;  the  plates,  which  overlapped  each  other  like 
the  tiles  of  a  roof,  being  so  arranged  as  to  form  a  crescent,  five 
feet  in  diameter  at  the  widest  part,  and  upwards  of  twenty 
feet  long.  Some  fine  specimens  of  the  graphic  variety,  in  thin 
oval  plates,  were  recently  discovered  in  a  mound  near  Lower 
Sandusky.  Ohio,  which  were  supposed,  by  those  who  first  ex 
amined  them,  to  bear  indubitable  hieroglyphics.  A  native 
deposit  of  this  variety  occurs  on  the  Schuylkill  river,  a  few 
miles  above  the  city  of  Philadelphia.  The  mineral  must  be  re 
ferred  to  some  primitive  locality  or  localities,  which  it  would  be 
interesting  to  identify  ;  for,  by  the  identification,  accurate  or  ap 
proximate,  of  the  original  sources  of  the  various  foreign  articles 
found  in  the  mounds,  we  are  enabled  to  fix,  with  greater  or  less 
certainty,  the  extent  of  the  intercourse,  if  not  in  some  degree 
the  direction  of  the  migrations,  of  the  ancient  people. 

It  is  in  this  view  that  the  discovery  of  pearls  and  marine 
shells  in  the  mounds,  is  specially  interesting.  Of  the  latter,  not 
less  than  five  kinds  have  been  recognized  ;  viz.,  the  cassis  (several 
varieties),  the  pyrula,  perversa,  oliva,  marginella,  and  nalica. 
These  shells  are  all  found  on  our  Southern  shores.*  They 

*  Several  of  these  shells,  including  the  pyrula  pet-versa  and  the  cassis 
cornutus,  were  discovered  several  years  ago  in  a  mound  near  Cincinnati, 
and  others  near  Lexington,  Ky.,  which  have  since  figured  largely  in  most 
speculations  on  American  antiquities  and  the  origin  of  the  American 
race.  They  were  assumed  to  be  peculiar  to  Asia ;  and,  as  similar  shells 
were  sacred  to  certain  religious  rites,  or  consecrated  to  certain  gods  of 
the  Hindoos,  have  been  cited  in  support  of  the  hypothesis  that  the 
builders  of  the  mounds  had  their  origin  in  India.  [See  DelafielcTs  In 
quiry,  Bradford's  Researches,  Laing's  Polynesian  Researches,  &c.  &c.] 
This  is  but  one  of  many  instances  in  which  an  erroneous  assumption  has 
been  perpetuated  by  succeeding  writers,  each  quoting  from  his  prede 
cessor  without  submitting  his  statements  to  a  critical  analysis.  The 
well-known  fact  that  these  shells  occur  in  abundance  on  our  Southern 
shores,  relieves  them  from  the  necessity  to  which  they  have  heretofore 
been  subjected,  of  a  transportation  of  twelve  thousand  miles, — ten  thou 
sand  by  sea,  and  two  thousand  by  land ! 


THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

seem  to  have  been  chiefly  used  for  ornamental  purposes,  and 
hundreds  of  the  marginella,  pierced  longitudinally  so  as  to  be 
strung,  are  sometimes  found  accompanying  a  single  skeleton. 
Great  numbers  of  beads  worked  from  the  compact  portions  of 
some  of  the  larger  shells,  are  also  found.  These,  generally  much 
altered  by  long  exposure,  were  originally  supposed  to  be  ivory, 
and  their  frequent  discovery  probably  gave  rise  to  the  notion 
that  ivory  is  common  in  the  mounds.  It  has  been  suggested 
that  many  of  them  were  worked  from  the  columella  of  the 
strombus  gigas,  which  has  been  discovered  in  some  of  the  an 
cient  graves  of  Tennessee.  Quantities  of  pearls^  more  or  less 
burned,  have  been  found,  but  only  upon  the  altars.  They  are 
clearly  not  from  the  fresh  water  molluscas ;  their  numbers  and 
great  size  forbid  the  supposition.  They  are  easily  identified  by 
their  concentric  lamination.  They  are  generally  pierced  for 
beads,  but  some  of  the  smaller  ones,  as  will  shortly  appear,  con 
stituted  the  eyes  of  the  ancient  sculptures  of  animals  and  birds. 
We  must  refer  these  to  the  same  locality  from  whence  the 
shells  above  named  were  procured  ;  where,  as  we  are  informed 
by  the  early  writers,  the  Southern  Indians  carried  on  the  pearl 
fishery.  It  may  be  mentioned,  in  this  connection,  that  the 
teeth  of  the  shark  and  alligator,  bear,  panther  and  wolf,  and 
the  talons  of  rapacious  birds,  as  also  the  fossil  teeth  of  the 
shark, — the  latter  most  likely  from  the  tertiary  of  the  Lower 
Mississippi, — have  all  been  found  in  the  mounds.  Most  of  them 
are  perforated,  and  were  probably  used  as  ornaments  or  amulets, 
but  some  seem  designed  as  implements.  Many  large  teeth,  pro 
bably  cetacean,  have  been  discovered ;  not  far  from  one  hun 
dred  occurred  in  a  single  mound.  They  were  all  too  much 
burned  to  be  recovered  entire.  One  of  the  largest  measured 
six  inches  in  length,  and  upwards  of  four  inches  in  circumfer 
ence  at  the  largest  part.  They  are  destitute  of  enamel,  and 
have  a  pulp  cavity,  in  this  respect  resembling  those  of  the 
whale,  from  which,  however,  they  differ  widely  in  shape.  They 
have  not  yet  been  identified.  The  mound-builders  evidently 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY.  337 

used  them  for  various  purposes,  and  some  of  the  articles  taken 
for  ivory  may  have  been  made  from  them.  A  specimen  was 
found  which  exhibited  marks  of  having  been  sawn,  drilled,  and 
polished.  Accompanying  them  were  several  beautifully  carved 
cylinders  of  a  compact  substance  resembling  ivory ;  one  of 
these  was  originally  fourteen  inches  in  length,  and  when  found 
was  closely  wrapped  in  sheet  copper.  Bones  of  the  elk,  deer, 
etc.,  worked  into  the  form  of  daggers,  awls,  etc.,  are  of  frequent 
occurrence. 

It  is  impossible  here  to  indicate  the  great  variety  of  the  im 
plements  and  ornaments  of  silver,  copper,  stone,  &c.  &c.,  found 
in  the  mounds.  Many  of  these  are  of  a  very  interesting  char 
acter,  as  illustrating  the  state  of  ancient  art,  and  as  enabling 
us,  from  the  material  of  which  they  are  composed,  their  pecu 
liarities  of  form,  and  correspondences  of  use,  to  define  the  in 
tercourse,  and  in  some  degree  the  connections,  of  the  ancient 
races.  From  what  has  already  been  presented,  it  will  be  seen 
that  there  are  gathered  in  the  mounds,  or  the  alluvions  of  the 
Ohio,  copper  and  silver  from  the  Great  Lakes ;  pearls  and 
shells  from  the  Southern  Gulf;  mica  from  the  primitive  ranges 
of  the  Alleghanies,  and  obsidian  from  the  volcanic  ridges  of 
Mexico, — an  extended  range,  the  extremes  of  which  define, 
with  great  precision,  the  field  in  which  the  mounds  occur.  It 
would  almost  seem  that  the  ancient  race  existed  contemporane 
ously  over  this  great  area,  maintaining  throughout  a  constant 
intercourse.  BfinCTOlt  ij| 

There  is  one  class  of  ancient  remains  which  probably  pos 
sesses  a  greater  popular  interest  than  any  other.  These  are  the 
sculptures  or  carvings  in  stone,  of  which  a  great  variety  occur 
in  the  mounds.  These  display  no  inconsiderable  degree  of 
taste  and  skill.  They  exhibit  a  close  observance  of  nature,  and 
an  attention  to  details,  which  we  are  unprepared  to  look  for 
among  a  people  not  considerably  advanced  in  the  arts,  and  to 
which  the  elaborate  and  laborious,  but  usually  clumsy  and  un 
graceful  productions  of  the  savage,  can  claim  but  slight  ap- 

15 


338  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

proach.  Savage  taste  in  sculpture  is  oftenest  exhibited  in 
monstrosities,  caricatures  of  things  rather  than  faithful  copies. 
The  carvings  from  the  mounds,  on  the  contrary,  are  remark 
able  for  their  truthfulness ;  they  display  not  only  the  general 
form  and  features  of  the  objects  sought  to  be  represented,  but 
to  a  surprising  degree  their  characteristic  expression  and  atti 
tude.  In  some  instances  their  very  habits  are  indicated  ;  the 
otter  is  represented  securing  a  fish,  so  also  is  that  inveterate 
fisher,  the  heron,  and  the  hawk  hold  s  a  small  bird  in  his  talons 
and  tears  it  with  his  beak.  These  representations  are  so  exact 
as  to  leave  no  doubt  as  to  the  animals  designed  to  be  exhibited. 
Hardly  a  beast,  bird,  or  reptile,  indigenous  to  the  country,  is 
omitted  from  the  list.  We  identify  the  beaver,  the  otter,  elk, 
bear,  wolf,  panther,  racoon,  opossum,  and  squirrel ;  the  hawk, 
heron,  owl,  vulture,  raven,  swallow,  paroquet,  duck,  goose,  and 
numerous  other  varieties  of  land  and  water  birds ;  the  alliga 
tor,  turtle,  toad,  frog,  rattlesnake,  etc.  etc.  Besides  these  there 
are  carvings  of  various  animals  and  birds  not  indigenous  to  this 
latitude  ;  for  instance,  the  lamantin  or  manitus,  and  the  tocan. 
Several  carvings,  supposed  to  represent  the  manitus,  have  been 
discovered,  one  of  which  is  shown,  of  full  size,  in  the  following 
engraving : 


FIG.  75. 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY.  339 

The  engraving  does  not  do  full  justice  to  the  original,  which 
is  exquisitely  carved  and  polished,  every  feature  being  clearly 
made  out.  The  sculpture  answers  very  well  to  the  descriptions 
of  the  manitus  given  by  naturalists.  It  has  the  obtuse  head 
(not  well  shown  in  the  engraving) ;  thick,  fleshy  snout ;  semi- 
lunar  nostrils ;  tumid  upper  lip,  furrowed  in  the  middle ; 
scarcely  distinguishable  ears ;  the  singular  moustaches  men 
tioned  by  Desmoulin  ;  short,  thick  neck,  and  rudiinental  paws, 
or,  as  they  were  called  by  the  Spaniards'  hands.  The  general 
form  also  corresponds  with  the  descriptions  given.  But  one  of 
the  sculptures  exhibits  a  flat,  truncated  tail ;  the  rest  are  round, 
and  rather  long.  There  is  a  variety  of  the  lamantin,  however, 
known  as  the  round-tailed  manitus,  to  which  they  may  bear  a 
closer  resemblance.  This  animal  is  only  found  in  tropical  re 
gions  ;  it  occurs,  though  rarely,  on  the  Peninsula  of  Florida,  and, 
it  is  believed,  nowhere  else  within  the  limits  of  the  United 
States.  The  inhabitants  of  San  Christophers,  Guadaloupe, 
and  other  of  the  Barbadoes,  formerly  used  it  for  food,  and  the 
Southern  Indians  made  use  of  its  hide  for  thongs,  and  its  bones 
for  implements.  The  sculptures  of  this  last  of  animals  or  first 
of  fishes,  are  all  of  the  same  style  of  workmanship,  and  of  like 
materials,  with  an  entire  class  of  sculptures  found  in  the 
mounds.  Consequently,  either  the  same  race  of  men,  possessing 
throughout  a  like  mode  of  workmanship  and  deriving  their  ma 
terials  from  the  same  sources,  existed  at  the  same  period  over 
the  intervening  country,  from  the  Ohio  to  the  haunts  of  the 
manitus  on  the  Southern  coast,  and  maintained  a  constant  in 
tercourse  ;  or  else  there  was,  at  some  time,  a  migration  from 
the  South,  bringing  with  it  these  characteristic  remains  of  ano 
ther  region.  We  cannot  conceive  that  these  sculptures  alone 
are  fanciful  creations,  bearing  only  an  accidental  resemblance 
to  the  manitus,  while  the  others  accompanying  them  are  faith 
ful  representations  of  objects  generally  easily  recognizable. 
It  should  be  remarked,  that  the  mound-builders  seem  to 


340 


THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 


have  been  inveterate  smokers,  and  that  in  the  construction  and 
ornament  of  their  pipes  they  displayed  their  utmost  skill. 
They  are  always  carved  from  a  single  piece,  and  consist  of  a 
flat,  curved  base  of  variable  length  and  width,  the  bowl  rising 
from  the  convex  side.  From  one  of  the  ends,  communicating 
with  the  bowl,  is  drilled  a  small  hole  answering  the  purposes  of 
a  tube ;  the  corresponding  opposite  division  being  left  for  the 
manifest  purpose  of  holding  the  implement  to  the  mouth.  The 
bowls  of  these  pipes  are  often  sculptured  into  singular  devices, 
figures  of  the  human  head,  of  animals,  birds,  etc.  etc.,  of  which 
examples  are  given  in  the  "  Ancient  Monuments  of  the  Mis 
sissippi  Valley,"  from  Fig.  142,  to  Fig.  194,  inclusive. 

Of  a  very  different  character,  and  doubtless  of  a  very  differ 
ent  origin,  is  a  class  of  sculptures  of  which  the  following  cut, 
Fig.  76,  presents  an  example.  It  is  carved  from  a  dark-colored 


FIG  76. 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY.  341 

sandstone,  and  presents  a  human  figure  resting  upon  its  knees 
and  elbows.  The  limbs,  however,  are  barely  indicated.  The 
figure  is  boldly  though  roughly  carved,  with  the  exception  of 
the  face,  which  is  better  finished  and  quite  characteristic.  It 
has  peculiar  markings,  extending  from  the  eyes  diagonally 
across  the  cheeks.  A  large  serpent  is  folded  around  the  neck  ; 
^he  head  and  tail  of  the  reptile  resting  together  upon  the 
breast  of  the  figure.  The  head  is  surmounted  by  a  knot,  re 
sembling  the  "  scalp-lock"  of  the  Indians.  It  is  six  inches  in 
greatest  length,  five  inches  high,  and  has  a  broad,  flat  base.  It 
was  ploughed  up,  some  years  since,  near  Chillicothe,  Ohio. 
Like  the  more  delicate  sculptures  above  referred  to,  it  was 
adapted  for  a  pipe. 

Several  other  specimens,  closely  resembling  the  one  last  de 
scribed,  have  been  found  at  various  points  upon  the  surface,  but 
none  have  been  developed  from  the  mounds.  Both  in  material 
and  workmanship  they  sustain  a  close  relationship  to  certain 
"  stone  idols,"  as  they  have  been  termed,  discovered  in  Virginia, 
Tennessee,  and  elsewhere.  The  fact  that  no  sculptures  of  this 
description  have  been  found  in  the  mounds,  and  the  compara 
tive  rudeness  which  they  exhibit,  induce  the  belief  that  they 
belong  to  a  different  era,  and  are  the  work  of  another  and  a 
ruder  people. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  mound  sculptures  are  executed  in 
a  fine  porphyry.  It  occurs  of  many  shades  of  color ;  some  va 
rieties  have  a  greenish  brown  base,  with  fine  white  or  black 
grains ;  others  a  light  brown  base,  with  white,  purple,  and 
violet-tinged  specks  ;  but  most  are  red,  with  white  and  purplish 
grounds.  In  some  specimens  the  base  exhibits  scarcely  any 
admixture,  and  strongly  resembles  the  Catlinile,  or  red  pipe- 
stone  of  the  Coteau  des  Prairies.  All  the  examples  are  of 
great  hardness  ;  a  natural  characteristic,  or  measurably  the 
result  of  the  great  heat  to  which  they  have  been  subjected. 
Under  heat  this  porphyry  splinters,  often  in  a  nearly  uniform 
plane  :  and  examples  have  been  remarked,  partly  fused  into  a 


L 


342  THE    ANCIENT    MONUMENTS 

porous,  dark  brown  mass.  Heat  has  the  effect  of  rendering  the 
specimens  with  a  red  base  of  a  bright  black  ;  and  some  of  the 
restored  sculptures  exhibit  a  striking  contrast  in  the  color  of 
their  different  parts.  The  primitive  locality  of  this  mineral  is 
unknown.  *  '.. 

All  carvings  from  the  mounds  are  exquisitely  wrought ;  and 
in  all  cases  where  the  material  will  admit  of  it,  beautifully 
polished.  "We  can  scarcely  understand  how,  in  the  absence  of 
instruments  of  iron,  the  carvings  were  executed.  It  may  be 
suggested  that  they  were  rubbed  into  shape  upon  hard  rocks  ; 
but,  apart  from  the  incredible  labor  of  such  a  process,  and  the 
palpable  impossibility  of  securing  the  delicate  features  which 
some  possess,  by  such  means,  we  find  some  of  the  unfinished 
specimens  which  show  that,  however  the  general  outline  was 
secured,  all  the  lines  and  more  delicate  features  were  cut  or 
graved  in  the  stone.  The  copper  tools,  resembling  gravers, 
seem  hardly  adequate  to  this  work,  but  they  are  the  only  in 
struments  discovered  which  appear  at  all  adapted  to  the  pur 
pose. 

The  limits  assigned  to  this  resume  prohibits  any  further  ac 
count  of  the  remains  found  in  the  mounds.  Those  who  wish 
to  pursue  the  subject,  will  find  ample  materials  and  illustration 
in  my  work  on  the  monuments  of  the  West,  so  often  referred 
to  in  the  preceding  pages,  and  in  my  (in  some  respects  supple 
mentary)  work  on  "  The  Serpent  Symbol,  and  the  Worship  of 
the  Reciprocal  Principles  in  America."  What  has  already 
been  presented  may  serve  to  give  some  slight  conception  of  the 
general  character  of  the  ancient  works  of  the  West,  if  not  of 
their  number.  The  relationship  which  they  exhibit,  in  many 
respects,  to  remains  found  elsewhere  on  the  continent,  will  pro 
bably  be  forcibly  suggested  to  most  minds,  and  may  serve  in  a 
degree  to  indicate,  as  has  already  been  remarked,  the  depend 
encies  and  intercourse,  as  well  as  illustrate  the  minor  arts  of 
the  ancient  people.  They  should,  however,  be  considered  only 
in  connection  with  the  other  more  imposing  remains  with  which 


OF    THE    MISSISSIPPI    VALLEY.  343 

they  are  associated,  as  collateral  aids  in  the  solution  of  the 
grand  questions  involved  in  the  ancient  history  of  man  in 
America. 

There  is  a  single  point  more,  which,  from  a  variety  of  causes, 
has  been  invested  with  a  special  interest,  and  which  it  will  not 
be  out  of  place  to  notice  in  this  connection,  viz. :  the  alleged 
discovery  in  the  mounds,  of  sculptured  tablets,  bearing  hiero- 
glyphical  or  alphabetical  inscriptions.  Nothing,  to  which  it 
would  be  possible  to  assign  any  such  extraordinary  character, 
has  been  discovered  by  the  author,  in  the  course  of  his  investi 
gations  ;  nor  does  it  seem  likely  that  anything  like  an  alpha 
betical  or  hieroglyphical  system  existed  among  the  mound- 
builders.  The  earth-works  and  their  contents  certainly  estab 
lish  that  prior  to  the  occupation  of  the  Mississippi  valley  by  the 
tribes  found  in  possession  by  the  Europeans,  there  existed  here 
a  numerous  people,  possessing  a  different  social,  and  probably 
a  different  civil  organization, — an  agricultural  people,  consider 
ably  advanced  in  the  arts,  and  undoubtedly,  in  most  respects, 
superior  to  the  hunter  tribes  with  which  we  are  acquainted. 
There  is  no  evidence,  however,  that  their  condition  was  any 
thing  more  than  a  limited  approximation  to  that  attained  by 
the  ancient  Mexicans,  Central  Americans,  and  Peruvians, 
which  nations  had  made  but  the  first  advance  toward  an  alpha 
bet.  Whether  they  had  progressed  further  than  to  a  refinement 
on  the  picture-writing  of  the  savage  tribes,  is  not  yet  considered 
established.  It  would  be  unwarrantable,  therefore,  to  assign 
to  the  race  of  the  mounds,  a  superiority  in  this  respect  over 
these  nations,  which  were  so  much  in  advance  of  them  in  all 
others.  It  would  be  a  practical  reversal  of  the  philosophic 
teachings  of  History,  an  exception  to  the  laws  of  progress, 
which  it  would  require  a  large  array  of  well-attested  facts  to 
sustain.  Such  an  array  of  facts  we  do  not  yet  possess. 


